Handicapped Workers’ Rights and Benefits Promoted

          The Ministry of Labour’s Permanent Secretary M.L. Puntrik Smiti chaired the seminar commencement on “Rights, Benefits and Protection of Handicapped Workers in Thailand 4.0” at the Department of Skills Development’s Pakorn Angsusingh Conference Room today (1 May 2017). In her speech, she said that the Ministry of Labour was integral in caring for handicapped people, particularly in creating fair employment opportunities and occupational protection. She explained that all the ministry’s affiliated units have consistently assisted each other, whereby the seminar today was a good opportunity to share experiences and benefits that handicapped workers receive. Speakers included representatives from Ministry of Labour, the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, the National Health Security Office and other handicapped-related units and networks, whereas participants included over 100 handicapped workers and representatives of organizations on handicapped causes.

Today’s seminar was organized with the objective of spreading awareness and understanding on rights for the handicapped workforce, and to exchange ideas and thoughts on occupational rights, compensation and protection. The Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities presented statistics as of 31 December 2016 which showed over 200,000 handicapped workers, comprising over 30,000 employed by private and state enterprises and the remainder in social organizations such as local health clinics, all provincial National Health Security Offices and other public services organizations. Although the handicapped workers are at a certain level of self-sufficiency, their knowledge and understanding of their rights and benefits remains limited, therefore the seminar was an opportunity for the targeted group to understand their entitlements and strengthen relationships and networks with relevant stakeholder.