On June 7, 2024, the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Pairoj Chotikasathien, assigned the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, Lieutenant Saroj Komkhai, presided over the opening ceremony of the training for Teacher B (village/community independent labour network) under the project to improve the quality of life of informal workers by the community network through registration of informal workers (independent workers). The Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-General, Mrs. Marasri Jairangsi, the Department of Employment’s Deputy Director-General, Mr. Sibmuenchai Phothisin, and the Ministry of Labour’s senior executives joined the opening ceremony. Four hundred fifty labour volunteers joined in the welcome at the Vayupak Room, 5th floor, Centara Life Hotel, Government Complex and Convention Center, Chaengwattana, Bangkok.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, Lieutenant Saroj Komkhai, said that he was delighted and honoured to receive this assignment from the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Pairoj Chotikasathien to preside over the opening ceremony of the training for the Teacher B event under the project to improve the quality of life of informal workers by the community network through registration of informal workers (independent workers). Today, the Ministry of Labour is in the process of proposing a draft of the Independent Worker Promotion and Protection Act B.E…. which is considered an important policy of the Labour Minister who strives to improve the quality of life of over 20 million independent workers, whether they are farmers, general contractors, storefront or online-selling merchants, artists, singers, actors, YouTubers, influencers, and workers working with digital platforms as a medium also known as “riders.” They make up a large population of the nation’s workforce and play an important role in creating economic growth. However, these workers do not have employee status according to labour law, which causes the inability to access basic rights at work, workplace safety, and social security, forming groups and organizations to create bargaining power to create fairness in work. Moreover, when this group of workers encounters problems, the Ministry of Labour does not have the 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 formulate policies, plans, and budgets to provide targeted assistance and relief, as well as provide appropriate welfare for independent workers.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour went on to say that the purpose of organizing the training for Teacher B this time was to allow Teacher B, who are 450 Bangkok labour volunteers, to perform their duties in publicizing and creating knowledge and understanding about the essence of the draft Independent Worker Promotion and Protection Act B.E…. and encourage people to register as workers outside the system (independent workers) through the application.
“It is important for the Ministry of Labour to integrate and work with local network partners to promote the registration of independent workers to achieve the next goal. I sincerely hope that all trainees will use the knowledge gained to communicate the benefits that independent workers will receive from the draft bill and invite independent workers in their area to participate with the Ministry of Labour in pushing for this draft bill to come into effect as soon as possible. I hope that the objectives of this training are achieved in all aspects,” said Lieutenant Saroj.
