The Department of Employment invites the public to shop for New Year’s gifts in the event “Shop for the Right Things … for the Right Person.” The event showcases products from freelance groups supported by the Department of Employment. They also launched an e-catalog for convenience, shopping the new normal way.
On December 2, 2022, the Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, said that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha, has the policy to revitalize the economy after the COVID-19 situation to encourage spending during the New Year festival. Therefore, the Ministry of Labour has invited a group of independent professionals, supported by the Department of Employment, to sell products during the New Year festival at the “Shop for the Right Things … for the Right Person” event. The event has exhibitions and sales of products from the freelance groups supported by the Department of Employment (homeworker groups), both from Bangkok and neighboring provinces. The groups include the stylish bag group, the Thonglong Hin Handicraft Group, the Ban Krua Western Community Housewives Group, the Bead, and Silk Embroidery Group, the Tan Wood Lathes Group, production of household appliances from sugar cane wood, the Ban Phuan Women’s Volunteer Group, the Mudmee Fabric Processing Group, the Bang Phluang Subdistrict Noodle Processing Group, the Artificial Silk Jar Group, and the Khonlabai Craft Group making handmade bags. The event is open for people who want to buy New Year’s gifts as souvenirs for important people. They can shop at the Employment Service Center for Thai People, the Smart Job Center, the Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour. An e-catalog has also been launched as another channel to present the products online. Currently, products have been collected from over 63 groups in 45 provinces with 378 products, allowing those interested in products to browse through the online system anytime, anywhere.
“For those preparing to “Shop for the Right Things … for the Right Person” in the New Year, I would like to share the quality products from self-employed workers. In addition to having a variety of products to choose from, it is also a subsidy for local products in Thailand, helping to stimulate the economy, create career opportunities and distribute income to informal workers, “said the Labour Minister.
The Department of Employment’s Director-General, Mr. Pairoj Chotiksetian, said that the Department of Employment attaches importance to promoting Thai people to have jobs, earn income and support additional occupations. It strives for Thai people to have a better quality of life. For these self-employed groups supported by the Department of Employment (homeworker groups), the Department will provide advice from gathering the group to get the job correctly, introducing income-expense accounting, introducing effective distribution channels, and helping to publicize distribution channels. Most importantly, there is also a fund for homeworker professional groups to take a loan to buy raw materials for production, equipment, or to expand production.
“Formerly, the fund for homeworkers was a legitimate funding source that provided loans at a low-interest rate of 3 percent per year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, informal workers, who are self-employed groups supported by the Department of Employment, were greatly affected. Therefore, the fund’s interest rate was reduced from 3 percent per year to 0 percent per year in installments 1-12 and lending at a rate of 0 percent continuously since the 2020-2022 fiscal year to alleviate the suffering of borrowers of the fund. Since the fund’s establishment in 2005, it has helped 574 occupational groups registered with the Department of Employment, generating income for occupational groups of 62,784,000 Baht per year. In 2023, the Department plans will select a strong occupational group as a best practice to recognize and use as an example to increase potential, share knowledge and encourage occupational groups to continue to be strong.
Those interested in viewing products from the e-catalog of the professional groups can view and support the products on doe.go.th/vgnew. For those who have ideas or are interested in joining a group to get a job to do at home, applications can be submitted at the Provincial Employment Office or Bangkok Employment Office Area 1-10, in the locality where the occupational group is located, or contact the Employment Promotion Division, Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour, by calling 02 245 1317.
Mrs. Mina Mumad-Aree, the Head of the Ban Krua Community Housewives Group, said she was a member of a professional group supported by the Department of Employment for 15 years. She and ten group members made mass-produced products from crystal, earning 10,000 – 20,000 Baht monthly. She said that joining a group to work from home is very useful. Besides income, it also created a strong group of housewives in the community to do other community development activities. In addition, the fund for homeworkers is very helpful. Members can borrow money to buy equipment with low interest. Mrs. Mina said with pride that five years ago, she was a representative of the group, receiving an award for the outstanding work recipient fund from Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha.
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Division of Public Relations
2 December 2022
