Permanent Secretary of Labour M.L. Puntrk Smiti chaired the workshop for the Informal Worker Management Strategy 2017 – 2021, which took place at the Century Park Hotel on Din Daeng, Bangkok. The Permanent Secretary commended efforts by informal worker leaders on working with the public sector, an issue that Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha and Labour Minister General Sirichai Distakul has given great focus to. The strategy aims to convert informal workers into the formal working system to ensure social protection, employment opportunities and more.
The second Informal Worker Management Strategy (2017-2021) focuses on 3 components which include social security and protection, promoting knowledge to enhance employability and development of management capabilities. The Permanent Secretary emphasized that efforts would require close collaboration from all 9 ministries and 20 units, to ensure that 21.3 million from the 38.3 million informal workers have access to government services, employment opportunities, social security, fund access and standard hygiene.
M.L. Puntrik Smiti explained that the Ministry of Labour is targeting social protection and a better quality of living for informal workers, where the workshop today was an important step to success as it involved participation of the Ministry of Labour, social sector and informal worker leaders for piloting in 15 provinces. This will include Samut Prakarn, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Nan, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Payao, Lamphun, Petchabun, Uttaradit, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Songkhla, Trang, Surat Thani and Bangkok.
“As the Ministry of Labour’s officers, we must get to know the informal worker population and understand what they need. Most importantly, we need to find the sources of information on what professions informal workers are in and what they want developed. We also need to know if they can access source of funds and sufficiency of social protection. With this information, we can ensure better access to government services,” said the Permanent Secretary of Labour.
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Spokesperson and Publication Sub-Division/
Bureau of Public Relations /
Chaninthorn Phettab – News/
Sompob Silbut – Photos/
4 April 2017
