On July 29, 2020, at 09.30 hours, Permanent Secretary of Labour Mr. Suthi Sukosol welcomed the Association of Persons with Disabilities of Thailand to discuss measures to support disabled workers affected by the Covid-19 virus outbreak. The association proposed for the Ministry of Labour to further submit to the government’s National Committee on the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities to accelerate government agencies’ hiring of people with disabilities in the full amount according to the law 8,000 people. It said that the Ministry of Labour should cooperate with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, to improve ministerial regulations on two issues, including the increase of the proportion of government agencies’ employment of the disabled to 2 percent, equal to the average rate that Southeast Asian nations assign to employer or organizations. It proposed that government agencies must pay the minimum wage for a total of not less than 30 days per month, even if hiring a disabled person daily. The association proposed amendments to the law on the empowerment of persons with disabilities under Section 33, to provide the Ministry of Labour with the power to promote and protect the disabled workers in all dimensions, and to improve the composition of the Subcommittee on the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, to develop an integrated database and employment inspection system for the disabled among various departments. It also proposed the prosecution of workplaces and people with disabilities who agree on employment at a lower wage rate than the law and to urgently consult with people with disabilities and establishments to establish guidelines for the implementation under Section 35, to enable people with disabilities and organizations to act with clarity and correctly during the Covid-19 period. The discussion included instructions for the application of the new normal, to create an understanding among workplaces concerning forms and methods of job assignment, including the command line of each establishment for the minimal interruption in the case where companies employ people with disabilities to work for public benefits in the community following the instructions of the company and to develop or support companies as a mechanism to promote employment of people with disabilities in strengthening and coordinating with networks/agencies/service centers for the general disabled. Furthermore, the Ministry of Labour should propose the category of employment of disabled persons in the Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541. The meeting took place at the Pakorn Angsusing Meeting Room, 10th floor, Department of Skill Development.
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