On June 29, 2022, the Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, assigned Assistant to the Labour Minister Mr. Surachai Chaitrakulthong as a representative to receive a letter from the Presidents of the Confederation of Thai Labour, Mr. Panas Thailuan, and Mr. Chinnachot Saengsang, who brought members to submit a letter and a bouquet. They requested that the Labour Minister help oppose the draft Labour Relations Act B.E.….., the version considered by the Office of the Council of State. Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Boonchob Suttamanaswong, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Wannarat Srisuksai, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, Ms. Bubpha Rueangsud, and the Ministry of Labour’s senior executives also joined the occasion at the foyer on the ground floor, Ministry of Labour.
Mr. Surachai said that the government under the leadership of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha, and Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who oversees the Ministry of Labour, is concerned about the workforce, which is a key gear in driving the country’s economy to progress steadily. The government and the Ministry of Labour have focused on improving the law following the current situation to improve the quality of life for the workers. Today, the Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, assigned him and the Ministry of Labour’s executives to meet all workers.
Mr. Surachai also spoke about the origins of the Labour Relations Act B.E. …. He said that the Ministry of Labour’s Department of Labour Protection and Welfare had set up a tripartite committee and held a meeting to draft the said draft in 2015. At that time, General Sirichai Disthakul was the Labour Minister. The Act was drafted to align with the national strategy for creating opportunities and social equality, balancing and developing government management systems to align with government policy in the reform of public administration. It aimed to improve regulations and laws to facilitate business and daily life. The essence of the draft Act is to integrate the labour sector in line with international labour standards, facilitating ease for the people following technological changes. It makes the process of filing claims and settlement of labour disputes clearer, considering the benefits to employees, employers, and public service users who may be affected. It also promotes labour sector organizations to have meetings in a formal forum to propose opinions to the Minister or the Cabinet in formulating policies on the promotion of labour relations.
“The draft Act has passed the Ministry of Labour’s process already and cannot be reconsidered; it must be carried out at the Extraordinary Commissioner level. Mr. Panas, therefore, requested two employee representatives, himself and Mr. Chinnachot, to be the Extraordinary Commissioners in proportion to the government, to propose to the Labour Minister for consideration, as he is knowledgeable and has extensive experience in labour relations,” concluded Mr. Surachai.
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Division of Public Relations
29 June 2022
