The Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-General and spokesperson Mr. Ananchai Uthaipatanacheep disclosed the 20-year strategic framework on people development (2017 – 2036). The framework is split into 4 phases comprising “Productive Manpower, “Innovation Workforce”, “Brain Power” and “Creative Workforce”, driving the towards a Thailand 4.0. The strategic framework will guide the nation’s workforce to incorporation of decent work, ensuring fair protection and employment processes, a safe working environment, good labour relations and fair compensation and welfare to meet international standards. It will also promote high income and high productivity, ultimately leading to further stability and sustainability.
The framework will start with the “Productive Manpower” phase (2017 – 2021) which will focus on eliminating labour-related obstacles in the development process, in order to boost labour standards to meet international criteria. This phase will aim to provide social security to the whole workforce, promoting Thai workers to become more multi-skilled, in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), for a smooth transition into Thailand 4.0. The second phase, the “Innovation Workforce” from 2021 to 2025, will look at integration of technology and innovation to enhance productivity and STEM skills. Phase two will also amend legislation to facilitate flexibility in the digital age, and prepare the workforce for a multi-cultural working environment and employment abroad. The “Brain Power” stage (2027-2031) is the third phase, which will increase the population of workers with STEM skills in order to ensure a highly productive workforce with high income, gravitating the nation from the middle income trap. The fourth phase being the “Creative Workforce” phase (2032-2036) will promote sustainable development and continue to increase the workforce population with STEM skills, creating an innovative and skillful workforce for continuously better returns.
