"High potential labour with good quality of life"
The chronological development of labour administration in Thailand is as follows
1932 The first labour and social welfare policy announcement was made in 1932 when the country changed from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. One of the six principal policies announced by the new administration was that the people will be supported in earning a living and job opportunities will be provided for everyone.
1933 The employment Act was announced and the Government set up an Employment Service Section in the Registration Division of the Interior Department to administer the Act.
1934 The Employment Service Section was upgraded and renamed Labour Division and transferred to be attached to the Commercial Department, Economic Ministry.
1936 The Labour Division was assigned the additional functions of studying, inspecting, and improving working conditions, as specified in the Labour Investigation Act, 1936.
1938 The Labour Division was downgraded to be a Labour Section.
1940 The Department of Public Welfare was established as a department under the administrative structure of the Office of the Prime Minister in order to promote well-being of the people by way of helping them have proper occupations and earn enough incomes to look after themselves and their families in accordance with the standards of living. The Labour Section was upgraded again and transferred to be a division attached to the Public Welfare Department.
1941 - 1943 The Department of Public Welfare was transferred to the Ministry of Interior in 1941 and to the Ministry of Public Health in 1942 and return to the Ministry of Interior again in 1943.
1949 - 1955 The Labour Division was renamed Occupational Assistance Division in 1949, Occupational Assistance and Promotion Division in 1952 and Labour Division in 1955. The Division was assigned the additional function of labour relations.The Department of Public Welfare was transferred to the Ministry of Interior in 1941 and to the Ministry of Public Health in 1942 and return to the Ministry of Interior again in 1943
1956 The Labour Act, 1956, was enacted laying down procedures for labour protection and labour relations. The Labour Division was equipped with sixteen sections and given increased staff and budget to cope with the functions assigned to it.The Labour Division was renamed Occupational Assistance Division in 1949, Occupational Assistance and Promotion Division in 1952 and Labour Division in 1955. The Division was assigned the additional function of labour relations.The Department of Public Welfare was transferred to the Ministry of Interior in 1941 and to the Ministry of Public Health in 1942 and return to the Ministry of Interior again in 1943.
1962 The Labour Division was upgraded to Labour Bureau under the supervision of the Public Welfare Department. In this year, labour administration was extended to the provinces for the first time.
1965 The Labour Bureau was upgraded to Department of Labour under the Ministry of Interior. Its services were to cover employment service, skill development, labour protection and welfare, as well as the workmen's compensation fund.
1990 1990 The Social Security Act, 1990, was enacted and the Office of Social Security was set up under the Ministry of Interior. In accordance with the Act, the Office of Workmen's Compensation Fund was transferred to the Office of Social Security. The Labour Bureau was upgraded to Department of Labour under the Ministry of Interior. Its services were to cover employment service, skill development, labour protection and welfare, as well as the workmen's compensation fund.
1992 With social and economic growth, the Department of Labour has also expanded its activities and strengthened its functions to meet the increasing needs at the national and international levels. Since 1982, consideration has been given to a proposal to upgrade the department of Labour to Ministry status, which has been supported by employers' and workers' organizations as well as other social groups. Moreover, as a founding member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and host to the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, it is befitting for Thailand to establish the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.
On 26 January 1992, the cabinet approved, in principle, the establishment of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. The first step taken to implement this policy was to divide the Department of Labour into 2 departments -Department of Labour Protection and Welfare and Department of Skill Development.
1993 - 2002 The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare was established with the main functions of administering labour affairs, employment services, public welfare, labour skill development, labour protection and welfare, and social security.
The Ministry was established under the Act for the Reorganization of Ministries, Ministerial Bureau and Departments (8th Edition) B.E. 2536 (A.D. 1993) which has come into effect on September 23, B.E. 2536 provides that the Ministry is consisted of agencies as follows
1993 - 2002 The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare was established with the main functions of administering labour affairs, employment services, public welfare, labour skill development, labour protection and welfare, and social security.
The Ministry was established under the Act for the Reorganization of Ministries, Ministerial Bureau and Departments (8th Edition) B.E. 2536 (A.D. 1993) which has come into effect on September 23, B.E. 2536 provides that the Ministry is consisted of agencies as follows
On its part, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has transferred the functions of the Department of Public Welfare to the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. The new Ministry of Labour, therefore, has its main task on labour administration.
The Ministry is a strategic unit in the Government's task for national development. Its functions are to provide services in pursuant to Article 86 of the Constitution, B.E.2540 which requires the Government to promote the employment of people of working ages, protect workers especially child and women workers, organize labour relations system, provide social security and ensure fair payment and to fulfill people' wishes for the Ministry of Labour to be dependable on rendering services in labour administration and solving labour problems.
The Act on Reorganization of Ministries, Ministerial Bureaus and Departments, B.E.2545 provides for the adjustment of the authority of governmental agencies. It also changes the administrative system by restructuring agencies with works related to be compounded in a group so as to enable the objectives and direction of related agencies to work together in unity ,with efficiency and without unnecessary cost due to overlapping.
The Act on Reorganization of Ministries, Ministerial Bureaus and Departments, B.E.2545 provides for the adjustment of the authority of governmental agencies. It also changes the administrative system by restructuring agencies with works related to be compounded in a group so as to enable the objectives and direction of related agencies to work together in unity ,with efficiency and without unnecessary cost due to overlapping.
Under Article 34 of the Act, the Ministry of Labour has authority in labour administration and protection, skill development, the promotion of employment of people and any other governmental functions as prescribed by law to be the powers and duties of the Ministry of Labour or agencies under the Ministry. The Article 35 of the Act provides for the establishment of the following agencies under the Ministry.