On October 24, 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 the flooding situation and give encouragement to flood victims at Phikun Thong Temple in Phikun Thong Subdistrict, Tha Chang District, Singburi Province. Provincial governors, heads of government agencies involved, labour volunteers, and community members in the area welcomed the delegation.
Mr. Suchart said that the Ministry of Labour’s Social Security Office had taken care of the benefits of insured persons under Section 33 affected by natural disasters, such as floods, and workplaces/factories or houses in the area announced by the government. Such insured persons received compensation for lack of income in case of unemployment due to an emergency, with support of 50 percent of wages not exceeding 15,000 Baht for a maximum of 180 days. The support is aligned with the policy of the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is concerned about the people affected by the floods. Therefore, all government agencies were instructed to work together to support flood victims. Additionally, the Ministry of Labour’s Provincial Offices/Institutes of Skill Development has 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 a letter 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.
Mr. Suchart continued that Singburi Province has announced flood-affected areas in six districts: In Buri, Mueang Tha Chang, Phrom Buri, Bang Rachan, and Bang Rachan Camp. People have suffered in 24 subdistricts and 145 villages, affecting 18,575 households. There have been six deaths, including three insured and three non-insured persons. The Ministry of Labour’s Provincial Social Security Office in Singburi has paid benefits and assistance to deceased insured persons’ dependents, totaling 1,091,419.42 Baht. Additionally, the Ministry of Labour’s agencies has worked with provincial agencies to set up a war room to receive incident reports and coordinate assistance in distributing consumer goods to flood victims in the area. The Singburi Skill Development Office has set up a center to help affected people repair services for electrical appliances and small agricultural tools. From a survey of flood victims in Singburi Province, thirteen workers from agencies under the Ministry of Labour in Singburi were affected, including fifteen labour volunteers in Singburi, out of 43 labour volunteers. There were 1,571 company employees with homes that were flooded and seven workplaces that were flooded. People, employers, employees, and insured persons who have been affected by the flood in each area and need support from the Ministry of Labour’s agencies, can contact the Ministry of Labour’s 1506 hotline.
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Division of Public Relations
24 October 2022
