The Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson, Mr. Phumiphat Mueanchan, said that the Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, has pushed forward the Good-Breed Labour Project according to the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy. The Department of Labour Protection and Welfare has been assigned to encourage employers to support the budget, including plant/animal species or empty land for employees to use for cultivation and raising animals, to use the produce for consumption, sharing among households, and selling the remainder to increase income for their family. It is also a guideline for developing additional careers for employees who are entering retirement age. The project is a reflection of the royal initiative of His Majesty King Rama IX and the royal aspirations of the current monarchy in continuing, maintaining, and expanding the royal initiatives of the New Agricultural Theories so that employers and employees can be self-reliant according to the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy.
The project started in 2021 during the COVID-19 outbreak. It is a solution to workers’ issues that focus on food security and help build good relationships between employers and employees. In the past, there were many large and small business establishments. Employers and employees of all generations and all ages participated in the project and got positive feedback. They did not view it as a difficult matter, as everyone knew how to apply it. From 2021 to 2024, 1,237 business establishments participated in the project, with 156,608 employees benefiting from it, helping to reduce their expenses and increase income, valued at 109.52 million Baht. The Ministry of Labour aims to move forward by expanding the target group further to create the most sustainable benefits for both employees and employers.
The Ministry of Labour’s spokesperson said that today, many people understand the term “sufficiency economy” in the wrong way, thinking that it’s just growing vegetables, harvesting rice, and being tired. But beyond that, it has been incorrectly conveyed to the point of confusion in society. The “Sufficiency Economy” is a matter of principles that teach people to be moderate, reasonable, and have immunity on the basis of knowledge and morality. The teachings can be applied to solve problems in life for people of all groups, all ages, and all occupations to live life according to themself, not too much or too little to the point of causing themselves trouble.
