The Deputy Labour Minister visited Nan to follow up on work progress, ready to push the disabled workers to have a career and stable income to drive Thailand together.
On October 30, 2020, Deputy Labour Minister Prof. Narumon Pinyosinwat and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Capt. Thammanat Prompao visited Nan to track progress and advise on the operations of driving Thailand together in Nan. They also participated in the payment of the 2020 Longan Farmer Remedies Project in Nan and the Longan Production Promotion Project for Longan Farmers at the Nan Meeting Room. Nan Provincial Governor Mr. Niphan Boonluang and heads of relevant government agencies also participated at the Nan Meeting Hall.
Prof. Narumon said that Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha attaches great importance to supporting provincial operations, to help all groups of people in the area. The Ministry of Labour and government agencies have to work together to promote employment or self-employment to have a sustainable income. She said that more self-employment must rely on network partners in Nan, such as the private sector and state enterprises. The Ministry of Labour has many partnerships with the private sector that can assist in training, such as Kluaynamthai Hospital, supporting the aging society. She asked that Nan province and related agencies publicize and accelerate the operations in this part as well. Training must first select those who carry the state benefit card to enhance their knowledge and promote income.
Projects that Nan province has proposed to support under the framework of the economic and social recovery policy include the Nan Identity Development Project for Creative Cities, the project to upgrade the Nan economy towards creative innovation, and a project to empower people in the community and society to prepare them for a smart city.
Measures for short-term vocational training implemented by the province include the Nan Skill Development Office and provincial community development initiatives. In 2021, the Nan Skill Development Office has a goal of training workers. It has proposed the program to help people affected by Covid-19 through training courses such as small engine mechanics for agriculture and indoor electricians; the training period is five days. Efforts also include assisting people with disabilities by supporting the disability assistance subsidy. In terms of employment assistance, the Deputy Labour Minister asked to promote new graduates’ employment.
The Deputy Labour Minister then visited the Nan Provincial Disabled Persons’ Vocational Training Center at the Disabled Persons Association of All Forms in Nan, with approximately 200 group members, and met with the President of the Disabled Persons Association in Nan Province, Ms. Sirilak Turakijseri. In 2020, the association had received budget support under the urgent employment program of the Nan Provincial Labour Office, together with the Provincial Skills Development Office. It organized lectures to provide knowledge on mats and garment making and provide sewing machines and necessary equipment for the occupation of the disabled. Throughout the years, both government and private sectors provide continuous support for vocational training, such as the Office of Social Development and Human Security, providing bakery training and marketing for sale at local stores in Central Department Store and Tesco Lotus. It also provided professional training support in wicker basket weaving using real rattan and artificial rattan, sewing bags to reduce global warming, sewing hats, and buying products to sell. It complies with Section 35 of the People with Disabilities Empowerment Act, B.E. 2550 and Amendment (No. 2) B.E. 2556, which is a form of a place to sell goods or services by hiring, subcontracting, interning, or providing any other assistance to people with disabilities or their caregivers.
The Deputy Labour Minister added that helping and caring for people with disabilities to have a career is another matter that has to be driven by the concept of “create, enhance and give; uniting Thailand to build a nation” and policies of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister (General Prawit Wongsuwan), who values vulnerable groups, including women, children, the elderly and the disabled to have equal opportunities. Currently, Thailand has over 2 million people with disabilities. In Nan, 22,626 persons with disabilities are registered and have ID cards; 7,589 are of working age, 876 are children and 14,057 elderly. The Deputy Labour Minister assigned the province and the Nan Skills Development Office to explore needs to assist, such as increasing product sales channels or providing online sales knowledge.
“People with disabilities are spread in all areas of the country and still require help from the government and private agencies. Therefore, the private sector is invited to comply with the People with Disabilities Empowerment Act, B.E. 2550, to take part in driving the career development of the disabled so that people with disabilities can survive amid crises, have a sustainable income, and continue to have a good quality of life. For more information, please contact the Ministry of Labour’s 1506 hotline,’ concluded the Deputy Labour Minister.
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Division of Public Relations
30 October 2020
