On December 15, 2021, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin joined the delegation of Prime Minister and Minister of Defence General Prayuth Chan-ocha to visit the area to follow up on the development of the area, the progress of economic and social development through the “Security, Prosperity and Sustainability Triangle Model City Project,” security and border management, actions to eliminate poverty and sustainable development of people of all ages. They also joined a meeting on solving the COVID-19 situation. The occasion took place at the Government Center of the Southern Border Provinces, Muang Yala District, Yala Province. The Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson (on politics), Mrs. Theanrat Nawamawat, the Department of Skills Development’s Director-General, Mr. Prateep Songlamyong, and the Ministry of Labour’s executives also joined the occasion. Yala Provincial Governor Mr. Pirom Nittaya gave a welcome speech. Mr. Suchart said that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha, has a policy for the Ministry of Labour to support and develop Thai workers in the southern border provinces affected by the COVID-19 situation and to promote and supervise community enterprise groups to be able to extend their careers to SME entrepreneurs in the future. The focus is especially on informal, elderly, and disabled workers, including vulnerable groups, to have a career and a stable income. Yala Province is a sustainable tourism city with stable quality of life and wealthy agriculture.
Before the meeting, labour volunteer leaders at the subdistrict level and Yala labour graduates who serve to publicize the Ministry of Labour’s information, news, work, and missions to people in the area, also joined the welcoming. The Prime Minister met the people and showed encouragement and appreciation for supporting the Ministry of Labour and the people in the area. The Labour Minister then led the Prime Minister to visit the Ministry of Labour’s activity booths in Yala Province. The booths showcased products from successful occupational groups from professional training promotion. For example, the occupational group in sewing bags made from Patek cloth, the Luk Yee Krisrahmanh product group, the crispy roti, chilled roti community enterprise group, and the agricultural market community occupation promotion group.
Ms. Sapirah Sati, president of the Patek cloth bag sewing group from Na Tham Subdistrict, Mueang Yala District, said that the Ministry of Labour’s Yala Provincial Labour Office and the Yala Institute of Skill Development 24 had provided training on making cloth bags from Patek cloth, where villagers use their free time to their benefit. Families earn an average income of 3,000 to 4,000 Baht monthly. Currently, there are 15 members whose products are marketed through online distribution channels, such as coin purses, pencil cases, and put on cosmetics, for example.
Mrs. Bekamyan Pathan, president of the agricultural market community occupation promotion group from Sateng Subdistrict, Mueang Yala District, said the group was established in 2004 with 20 members. The Ministry of Labour’s Yala Institute of Skill Development 24 promoted productivity and product quality to help develop products to meet standards. The initiative has helped reduce production costs and create product value that lasts longer for crispy roti and chilled roti products. The Yala Provincial Labour Office has helped market and provide booths, giving products more distribution channels. Members earn an average of 2,000 to 3,000 Baht. Today, she thanked the Prime Minister and Labour Minister for launching policies to support professional groups, allowing grassroots communities to have a career with a sustainable income.
In Yala Province, there are 226,996 people in the workforce, comprising 223,485 employed people, 3,414 unemployed people, 1,564 organizations registered under social security, 235,544 insured persons, 4,208 foreign workers, 58 labour volunteers, and 76 labour graduates.
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Division of Public Relations
15 December 2021
