On 14 September 2017, Permanent Secretary of Labour M.L. Puntrik Smiti assigned the ministry’s Inspector-General Mr. Wiwat Tanghong to join the ASEAN Forum on Green Jobs Promotion at The Bazaar Hotel Bangkok. In the forum, Mr. Wiwat shared his vision and framework with participants which included representatives from the public sector, employers and employees from ASEAN member nations. He spoke about green jobs as a result of greater awareness on global warming and the impact it will have in the labour market soon; a result of change in consumer behaviour and higher demand for environmentally-friendly products. For this reason the Ministry of Labour has initiated policies and measures to improve the workforces’ skills in parallel with policies to strengthen social stability. Examples include the structure of wages in accordance with skill standards across numerous professions, implementation of the ‘Safety Thailand’ project to prepare for change and boosting confidence in the Thai workforces’ capacity and professional adaptability. The efforts also align with the International Labour Organization’s decent work and just transition.
On 15 September 2017, Mr. Wiwat Tanghong led all representatives on a visit to Siam Cement PCL to learn more about obstacles and demands faced with policy. The visit also facilitated exchange of ideas on environmental initiatives and innovations within the company.
Overall, the forum was well received by all parties and was a good start for Thailand in creating awareness and understanding with ASEAN stakeholders.
19 September 2017
