The Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson (on politics), Mrs. Thienrat Navamawat, spoke about the case of Mr. Anukul Ratchakuna, the admin and page representative of “The Riders’ Union,” along with workers from the informal sector, who spoke at the GIG Economy Forum to call on the government to enact legislation to protect the welfare of informal workers from being exploited by their employers. In this regard, she confirmed that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha, is concerned about the quality of life of informal workers. The Ministry of Labour was assigned to accelerate the promotion and development of informal workers’ potential to have a good quality of life. The Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, has responded to the policy and therefore pushed the bill to promote the Informal Workers Quality of Life Promotion Act B.E….to the Cabinet. The Cabinet’s resolution on December 28, 2021, approved the proposal in principle. It is currently being reviewed by the Office of the Council of State, considering the opinions of the relevant agencies. It will then proceed to the Coordinating Committee of the House of Representatives for consideration before submission to the House of Representatives.
Mrs. Thienrat continued that the Act would provide 19.6 million informal workers with access to basic occupational rights. It would provide workplace safety and social security and allow the groups to form together as an organization. It would ensure that workers are protected and developed towards a good quality of life, and having fair work contracts, for example, without stipulating conditions, causing the need to rush to work with risks, or having to work too hard to the point of risking their health. Fair contracts will also ensure fair rewards and remuneration following the prescribed rate and basic welfare and security. It also enables the establishment of the Informal Workers Fund to allow access to appropriate funding sources, the right to appeal investigations, suspension of work, and the right to collective bargaining of platform workers. In this regard, informal workers have access to protection and social security rights to take care of them in danger, illness, disability, death, old age, and child support. The support level depends on the workers’ option to be insured under Section 40.
“Expanding the objective scope to cover informal workers in all occupations will help informal workers who experience barriers to accessing private capital sources to take loans for occupation. The participation of members in paying contributions will benefit and improve the quality of life of informal workers. It will also provide a budget to promote and develop the quality of life of informal workers in the occupation, skill development, protection of proper working conditions, and the creation of stable social security. I affirm that the government has never forgotten informal workers and will make every effort to give this group of workers a good quality of life,” concluded Mrs. Thienrat.
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Division of Public Relations
23 August 2022
