On November 29, 202, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin presided over the meeting to discuss and listen to issues and suggestions on providing urgent assistance and remedies. The meeting took place with representatives of associations, clubs, networks, singers, actors, musicians, and operators of entertainment venues, clubs, pubs, and bars affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Assistant to the Labour Minister Mr. Surachai Chaitrakulthong, the Labour Minister’s Advisor, Mrs. Thiwalrat Angkinan, Assistant Minister from the Prime Minister’s Office performing duties for the Ministry of Labour Police Major General Nantachat Supamongkol and Mr. Suthi Sukosol, the Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson (on politics), Mrs. Theanrat Nawamawat, Permanent Secretary of Labour Mr. Boonchob Suttamanaswong and the Ministry of Labour’s executives also joined the occasion. The Labour Minister said that the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha is concerned for singers, musicians, and related professions, especially people working at night entertainment venues who COVID-19 has impacted. Therefore, there was an order from the CCSA’s meeting assigning the Labour Minister to take care of those affected, including entrepreneurs, employees, musicians, and night entertainment groups, as it is necessary to prepare before the opening for service. He invited representatives of associations, clubs, networks of singers, actors, musicians, and operators of entertainment venues, clubs, pubs, and bars. The representatives were led by Mr. Thanes Sukwat, a representative of musicians and concert organizers, Mr. Worapoj Nimwichit, representative of concert event organizers from the Professional Entertainment Network Confederation of Thailand, Mr. Witoon Chanboonkaew, a representative from the Professional Entertainment Network Confederation of Thailand, Mr. Siwakit Heng-Udomcharoen, representative of restaurant business operators, Khun Kiartikhun Thaksinnukulwong, Sales Director, Khun Sinanan Ratanatrakulchai, Senior Director of Copyright Management, Mr. Suthikan Piratikarnsakul, Human Resources Director, Ms. Lalana Ruangporn, Sales Director, and Khun Kiartipong Weerapongpradit, representative of musicians, singers, and organizers from Music Association of Thailand, joined the meeting to discuss and listen to problems and suggestions for urgent solutions.
Mr. Suchart continued that today, he had invited representatives from the NESDB, namely the Deputy Secretary-General Mr. Wirot Nararak, to listen and consider ways to support singers, actors, and entertainment venue operators as ordered by the Prime Minister. Such worker groups are freelancers who have suffered from the impact of COVID-19, which has caused a temporary stop on such entertainment for a long time now. In today’s meeting, the government, by the Ministry of Labour, consulted with the NESDB to determine appropriate assistance guidelines so that these groups will continue to receive comprehensive care as soon as possible.
Guidelines for support will be divided into three groups. For the first group, employers must register for the SME project (program to promote and maintain employment levels) for an additional one month to help this group of employers for three months, without tax. For group two, employees in the social security system will offer social security to heal unemployment from force majeure, paying 50 percent and another 5,000 Baht from the government (Section 33 We Love Each Other). The third group, employees not in the social security system, will receive compensation from the government using government loans but must be certified by the association/confederation.
“The Prime Minister is concerned and focused on helping working people in all walks of life affected by COVID-19, especially groups of singers, musicians, and related professions. The Ministry of Labour will expedite the support for those affected, including entrepreneurs and employees of these groups, to ensure urgent support for all groups. Our efforts follow the government’s policy of not leaving anyone behind,” concluded Mr. Suchart.
Mr. Thanes Sukwat, a representative of musicians and concert organizers, said that he thanked the Prime Minister for his concern for singers, musicians, and entertainment workers on behalf of the musicians and concert organizers. Today, the representatives discussed with Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin, who has helped resolve problems for the entertainment workers. Most of them are self-employed and were advised to apply as a Section 40 insured person to enter the social security system, which is information for the government to access support. He said that the Labour Minister worked quickly, and the measures are a positive step for singers, musicians, and entertainment workers, to be supported and remedies, including all other sectors that have been supported. The efforts will drive the health and the economic system forward and help working people in all walks of life and businesses move forward.
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Division of Public Relations
29 November 2021
