On October 4, 2022, the Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, joined the delegation of the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, to visit the area, to monitor and resolve flooding issues and provide relief bags to support flood victims. The visit was to Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. Provincial governors, heads of government agencies involved, labour volunteers, and community members in the area welcomed the delegation.
Mr. Suchart said that Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, is concerned about the people affected by the floods. Therefore, all government agencies were instructed to work together to support flood victims. The Labour Minister has instructed the Ministry of Labour’s five agencies in every province to accelerate support with the province. The Provincial Offices/Institutes of Skill Development have supported vehicles transporting people whose houses were flooded to temporary shelters and deployed technicians to take care of the people and the relevant agencies. They have set up a tent to provide repair services for motorcycles, electrical appliances, and small agricultural engines to reduce the cost to people whose electrical equipment was damaged by the flood. Support staff have prepared food to distribute to people in shelters and affected homes and have worked with local agencies to construct floating restrooms. The Provincial Employment Offices have prepared survival bags for affected people to offer initial alleviation. The Provincial Labour Protection and Welfare Offices have issued letters requesting cooperation from employers to allow employees affected by the flooding and unable to come to work to take time off without being considered as leave or an offense against the work regulations. The Social Security Office has provided support for under Section 33 insured persons in flooded establishments, and employees cannot go to work, where such insured persons will receive compensation from force majeure at 50 percent of wages.
Mr. Suchart continued that for Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani, the Ministry of Labour’s agencies, including the Khon Kaen Institute of Skill Development 6 and the Ubon Ratchathani Institute of Skill Development 7, have set up a center to help affected people with repair services for motorcycles, electrical appliances, and small agricultural engines. They have also prepared food boxes to distribute to people in shelters and homes affected by the disaster and supported the construction of floating restrooms to provide initial alleviation to the victims. People can also contact the Ministry of Labour’s 1506 hotline.
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Division of Public Relations
4 October 2022
