On May 20, 2024, at 09.00 hours, the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Pairoj Chotikasathien, chaired the opening ceremony of the training for Teacher A (a provincial model teacher) following the project to improve the quality of life of informal sector workers by community networks through registration of informal sector workers. The Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, Lieutenant Saroj Komkhai, the Academic Labour Advisor, Mrs. Napasorn Toongsooksai, the Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-Generals, Mr. Samat Pattamasukon, Mr. Sompot Kwangkaew, Ms. Bunyawee Khaipan, Mr. Santi Nantasuwan, and Assistants to the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Ms. Kornjirat Phongchansathorn and Mr. Sakdinart Sonthisakyotin joined in the honour of the opening ceremony at the Vayupak Room, 5th floor, Centara Life Hotel, Government Complex and Convention Center, Chaengwattana, Bangkok.
The Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Pairoj Chotikasathien, said that he was delighted and honoured to preside over the opening ceremony of the training for Teacher A according to the project to improve the quality of life of informal workers by the community network through registration of informal workers. Today, the Ministry of Labour is in the process of proposing a draft of the Independent Labour Promotion and Protection Act B.E…., which is considered an important policy of the Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, who strives to improve the quality of life of over 20 million independent workers, whether they are farmers, general, contractors, merchants who have storefronts or online businesses, artists, singers, actors, YouTubers, influencers, and workers working with digital platforms as a medium also known as “Riders.” They are a large group of workers in the country and play an important role in creating economic growth. However, these workers do not have employee status according to labour law, causing them to be unable to access basic rights at work, workplace safety, or social security. They still lack the ability to form an organization to create bargaining power and create fairness in work. Moreover, when this group of workers encounters problems, the Ministry of Labour does not yet have legal tools to assist. This law, therefore, pushes all independent workers to have the opportunity to register, to show that they are self-employed, to provide government agencies with a database to set policies, plans, and budgets to provide targeted assistance and relief, as well as provide appropriate welfare for independent workers.
The Permanent Secretary of Labour further said that the training for Teacher A will create lecturers who will transfer knowledge to over 75,249 Teachers B in the province to perform public relations duties and create knowledge and understanding about the essence of the draft Independent Labour Promotion and Protection Act B.E……. It will further encourage over 9 million people to register as workers in the informal sector through the application.
“It is important for the Ministry of Labour to integrate and work with local network partners to promote the register of independent workers to achieve the next goal. Today’s trainees will use the knowledge they have gained to organize training for Teacher B in the province according to their goals, including communicating the benefits that independent workers will receive from the draft bill. It will inform independent workers in the area and encourage them to participate with the Ministry of Labour in pushing for this draft bill to come into effect as soon as possible,” said Mr. Pairoj.
