On November 30, 2022, the Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, joined the delegation of the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha to visit Chiang Rai Province to follow up on the BCG Model Rice Conservation Project, Phase 1 pilot. He also chaired the event “Harvesting Rice to
Save the World ” and join a discussion on the “Revolution of Farming for Sustainability .”The Chiang Rai Provincial Governor, Mr. Passakorn Bunyalak, and heads of government agencies under the Ministry of Labour in Chiang Rai Province, labour volunteers from Chiang Rai Province, and rice farmers in the area joined to welcome the delegation at Baan Chiangkhan, Moo 14, Sathan Subdistrict, Chiang Khong District, Chiang Rai Province.
Mr. Suchart said that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha and Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who oversees the Ministry of Labour, emphasizes improving the quality of life of all workers. The workforce is considered an important part of driving the country’s economic and social development, especially over 22 million informal workers, including farmers, who are the majority of the country. In addition, Chiang Rai Province has over 400,000 informal workers who are skilled agricultural workers.
“The Ministry of Labour emphasizes improving the quality of life of all worker groups, especially informal workers such as motorcycle taxis, taxi drivers, hawker stalls, and self-employed workers, including farmers. The government has pushed for a bill to promote the Quality of Life Development and Protection for Informal Workers Act, B.E… The law above is under consideration by the Council of State. It includes a fund for informal workers to use as a source of loans to have working capital for their careers, including public relations efforts to create awareness for informal workers to apply as insured persons under Section 40, which will give informal workers social security and a better quality of life,’ said Mr. Suchart.
On the same occasion, the Labour Minister met and encouraged labour volunteers at the subdistrict level and the labour volunteers network in Chiang Rai Province, who attended the reception. Labour volunteers coordinate the Ministry of Labour’s mission to the community. They have sacrificed and devoted themselves to working closely with people in the community to coordinate labour services so that people have jobs, skills, occupations, and incomes, are protected and have sustainable social security.
Chiang Rai Province has 612,436 workers, of which 606,828 are employed, 2,964 are unemployed, and 2,644 are waiting for the season. There are 417,080 informal workers, 31,920 migrant workers, and 124 volunteer workers. There are 6,967 establishments in the social security system and 159,555 insured persons. Most employment is in Mueang Chiang Rai District. From implementing important policies, such as remedies for unemployment due to COVID-19, 2,252 employees were supported with 3,727,119.85 Baht. There was also the project to promote employment in SMEs, in which 4,138 employers participated, maintaining employment for 31,263 people, generating 224,298,000 Baht in the economy.
