On December 15, 2022, the Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, assigned the Secretariat to the Labour Minister, Mr. Suthep Chitvong, to chair the Social Security Academic Conference for 5 Regions 2022 (Northeastern Region) entitled Modernizing SSO 2022: Driving Towards A Modern Social Security System. He gave a special lecture, “Policy for development and upgrading the workforce’s lives.” The Social Security Office’s Secretary-General, Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, the Ministry of Labour’s executives, the Deputy Governor of Udon Thani Province, Mr. Nitiphat Leelaert, and heads of government agencies under the Ministry of Labour in Udon Thani Province gave a welcome at the Centara Hotel and Convention Center, Udon Thani Province.
The Secretariat to the Labour Minister, Mr. Suthep Chitvong, said that throughout the past, the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, has moved forward to restore the economy, despite various crises. The domestic economy is showing signs of continuous recovery from government spending stimulus measures, especially in the region. It reflects the effectiveness of government measures to solve the problem comprehensively and to the point. In addition, the government has taken measures to promote employment, which has positively affected the area’s economy, and employment within the workforce has improved. The Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, has focused on taking care of all workers in the social security system to receive protection and social security equally and is prepared to raise the living standards of workers, especially workers’ benefits. During the COVID-19 situation, the Ministry of Labour’s Social Security Office was an important mechanism for the government to help employers and insured persons through different projects. Examples include proactive COVID-19 screening in establishments, the vaccination program for insured persons, the Factory Sandbox project, the “Section 33 we love each other” project, the compensation program for employers and insured persons in the highest controlled areas in 29 provinces, and the program for insured persons in entertainment businesses. The COVID-19 situation has now eased, and the government has the policy to reopen the country, causing many Thai and foreign tourists to visit the area and spend. Government measures supporting spending and employment were helpful. Tourism businesses and services, shops, restaurants, and accommodations in Udon Thani and provinces in the northeastern region have improved, while the demand for labour in the area has also increased. This reflects the continued demand for labour in the labour market and other areas of the economy. Today, he had the opportunity to chair the social security conference for the five regions for the fourth time, to enhance knowledge and understanding about the importance of social security work to stakeholders. It is also an opportunity for participants to listen and exchange ideas in developing effective social security work from all parties involved, leading to the sustainable enhancement of benefits to creating a good quality of life for the insured to maximize their benefits.
The Social Security Office’s Secretary-General, Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, said that today’s event had close to 350 attendees, comprising the Ministry of Labour’s executives and officials, the Social Security Office’s staff, the Social Security Board, employer representatives, employee representatives, and insured persons in Udon Thani and surrounding provinces. In addition, within the event area, there were talks on the Ministry of Labour’s role in elevating the quality of life of workers towards stability by the Ministry of Labour’s executives and Modernizing SSO 2022, stepping into a modern social security system by the Social Security Office’s executives, and employer and employee representatives. There were academic exhibitions, such as the past COVID-19 assistance operations, along with guidelines for future actions and information about the challenges of the COVID-19 situation to lead to the development of services, enhance the quality of life for workers in all sectors, and drive the economy in tourism and service sectors in all provinces. As the Social Security Office’s Secretary-General, he reaffirms the office’s commitment to providing social protection and social security benefits to enhance the quality of life for all insured people. This is in line with the policy of the Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, to provide equal care for workers and “Leave no one behind,” Mr. Boonsong concluded.
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Division of Public Relations
