On September 4, 2024, the Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, chaired the opening of the job and freelance careers fair for Thai people to have careers and income, the DOE Craft Fair 2024. The Secretariat to the Labour Minister, Mr. Aree Krainara, the Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson, Mr. Phumiphat Mueanchan, the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Pairoj Chotikasathien, and the Ministry of Labour’s executives gave a welcome. The Department of Employment’s Director-General, Mr. Somchai Morakotsriwan, gave a report at the Ministry of Labour’s meeting room, 5th floor, Ministry of Labour.
Mr. Phiphat said that he was pleased and honoured to chair the opening ceremony of the job and freelance careers fair so that Thai people could have careers and income. With the changes in society and technology today, the workforce has adapted through the use of digital technology to facilitate work, causing the new generation to become more interested in working as freelancers. The Ministry of Labour, through the Department of Employment, plays a vital role in taking care of the social sector to drive the country’s economy. The goal is for freelance workers to receive career promotions, have stable incomes, and have a better quality of life.
Mr. Phiphat said that the “job and freelance careers fair for Thai people to have careers and income” will help promote entrepreneurs’ products directly, to increase opportunities for hiring and distribute products to groups of people who take work home under the “One Tambon, One Independent Career Group” project, which will create a prototype and promote the development of independent groups in every subdistrict, bring successful groups as best practices to share their experiences and create inspiration. It will also open shops for groups registered with the Department of Employment to promote and generate income for members and provide opportunities for the general public to study, learn, and get to know new careers in the current era by being able to try out real-world training to find their interests and what suits them, helping them develop and grow into independent careers, create additional income, and increase household income. He thanked all independent career groups nationwide who came to join this event, including participants and business establishments who came to be buyers and hire people to produce their work and exchange knowledge about careers, jointly generating income and creating stability for independent career groups.
The Ministry of Labour has opened up opportunities and space for independent workers to sell their products. Those who are interested can contact the Department of Employment. Currently, it has opened up space to sell products of the independent occupation group every Tuesday and Friday each week. If it receives good feedback, it will open up space to sell products every day at the Ministry of Labour.
“The Ministry of Labour, through the Department of Employment, has a mission to promote employment and occupations for all target groups of people, enabling informal workers and people interested in self-employment. From 2023 to 2024, we have promoted self-employment for over 20,000 people, generating income worth over 47,812,000 Baht,” said Mr. Phiphat.
The Department of Employment’s Director-General, Mr. Somchai Morakotsriwan, added that the job and freelance careers fair for Thai people to have careers and income included activities such as a seminar to share knowledge of home-based contractors, demonstration/practice of over ten freelance occupations, a career consultation clinic, a profession quiz, a discussion on stage by Mr. Bie The Ska, a famous YouTuber, promotion of the “Working People” platform, and services of agencies under the Ministry of Labour, the private sector, and state enterprises. There was also an exhibition and sale of products from over 40 home-based contractors and freelancers under the “One Tambon, One Independent Career Group” project, food and beverage sales by Food Trucks and over ten franchise shops, a live broadcast of online product sales via the Facebook page of the home-based contractors in both the central and regional areas, a meeting between employers who produce products and home-based contractors, and sales of products from the Blue Flag stores at low prices from the Department of Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce. The Ministry of Labour would like to invite students and the general public to join the fair for freelancers and contractors to help Thais have jobs and income at the DOE Craft Fair 2024, on September 4 to 5 at the Ministry of Labour.
