On August 3, 2021, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin assigned the Ministry of Labour’s Advisor, Mrs. Thiwalrat Angkinan, to visit the area to deliver rice boxes and dry food, supported by the private sector and kind citizens. The delivery was made to help families of taxi drivers who have suffered from the impact of COVID-19 through the Thai Taxi Association. The Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson (on politics), Mrs. Theanrat Nawamawat, the Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-General, Ms. Bubpha Rueangsud, and the President of the Thai Taxi Association, Mr. Witoon Naewpanich, joined the occasion at the Siam Taxi Cooperative, Nuanchan Road, between 27-29, Sureeporn 46/172 Project, Khlong Kum Subdistrict, Bueng Kum District, Bangkok. Mrs. Thiwalrat said that the government led by Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha has foreseen the hardships and cares for people in independent professions such as taxi drivers, street hawkers, motorcycle taxi drivers, tricycle drivers, including night time professions, such as waitresses, singers, and musicians, who have been affected by the lockdown measures in the highest control areas due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mrs. Thiwalrat added that today, the Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, has seen the hardship and concern for the taxi drivers who have been affected by COVID-19. Therefore, he assigned her and her team to visit the area to give food boxes and dry foods donated by the private sector and generous citizens like the CP Group, Carabao Dang, and Thai Union Group, who have joined forces to support the Ministry of Labour to help taxi driver’s families who have suffered from the impact of COVID-19. The donations were made through the President of the Thai Taxi Association, including support for the budget of the Thai Taxi Association to give money to the families of taxi drivers to prepare food boxes for workers’ camps. From visiting the area and talking and encouraging the taxi drivers, she said that they could be rest assured that the government and the Ministry of Labour, led by the Prime Minister, will not leave anyone behind.
President of the Thai Taxi Association, Mr. Witoon Naewpanich, said that he met the Labour Minister yesterday to share issues faced by taxi drivers. The Labour Minister had informed him that Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha has always been concerned about taxi drivers and instructed the Ministry of Labour to take care of self-employed people to apply for Section 40 to be remedied. Initially, he has given 1,000 bags of rice at 5 kilograms per bag. Today, the association sent news through various channels for taxi drivers to pick up the rice according to Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin’s wishes to alleviate the impact. Taxi drivers who picked up the items were grateful and thanked the Prime Minister for thinking of them. Taxi drivers have been in trouble for a long time now. Buying food in Bangkok is different than in the provinces. Five kilograms of rice means a lot. The taxi drivers thanked the government for the encouragement.
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Division of Public Relations
3 August 2021
