On December 13, 2024, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, presided over the ceremony to assign policies and deploy the Special Task Force on Employment, Working Conditions, Forced Labor, and Child Exploitation Among Migrant Workers. Mr. Aree Krainara, Secretariat to the Labour Minister, Mr. Phuchong Worasri, assigned to the Office of the Prime Minister and currently serving at the Ministry of Labour, and Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, gave a report. The Ministry of Labour’s executives also attended the ceremony in the lobby area on the ground floor of the Ministry of Labour’s building.
Mr. Phiphat said that today showcased the integration between government agencies, private sectors, and civil society to improve the foreign worker’s management system, including their rights and welfare, strict enforcement of labour laws, and inspection of labour protection to ensure comprehensive coverage, especially groups at risk and vulnerable to exploitation, fraud, and forced labour. The implemented measures match international standards and human rights principles, emphasizing equality and the value and dignity of being human.
Mr. Phiphat added that the “Special Task Force on Employment, Working Conditions, Forced Labor, and Child Exploitation Among Migrant Workers” is an integration of law enforcement agencies from the Ministry of Labour and key multidisciplinary agencies. The special task force’s objective is to serve as a rapid response team to prevent and suppress the use of illegal labour, refer offenders to prosecution, and protect workers and individuals who may be victims of exploitation or rights violations to ensure justice. It also aims to raise awareness among communities, business establishments, employers, employees, and related parties.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Labour, I would like to invite employers and employees to renew their work permits and register their foreign workers in accordance with the law so that they can continue to work and receive appropriate welfare after the grace period for registration has passed. The special task force will perform its duties with prudence, adhere to ethical principles, and strictly enforce the law to “prevent, suppress, and prosecute,” prioritizing the best interests of our workers, elevating Thai society to a sustainable culture of workplace safety,” said Mr. Phiphat.
Mr. Boonsong said that the policy assignment and deployment of the Special Task Force on Employment, Working Conditions, Forced Labor, and Child Exploitation Among Migrant Workers today has the goal of inspecting and protecting employment and working conditions of workers in all areas. The goal is to eliminate human trafficking, forced labour, and child exploitation, and to create awareness about fair employment and working conditions, the penalty for human trafficking, forced labour, and child exploitation to organizations, employers, employees, and related people in the area and community. Participants involved in the policy assignment and the deployment of the special task force ceremony were from various agencies, including the Office of the Permanent Secretary of Labour, the Department of Employment, the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, the Royal Thai Police, the Internal Security Operations Command, the Department of Provincial Administration, the Department of Special Investigation, the Department of Fisheries, the Marine Department, the Royal Thai Navy, and the Bangkok Administration, totaling 95 people.
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Division of Public Relations
