On May 7, 2024, at 14.00 hours, the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Pairoj Chotikasathien, chaired the opening ceremony of the meeting to determine labour mechanisms related to the implementation of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) on strengthening supply chains. The Deputy Director-General of the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs, Ms. Jaithai Upapannitikaset, the Deputy Director-General of the Office of Industrial Economics, Mrs. Siripen Kiatfuengfoo, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry, and relevant agencies joined the meeting at the Prasong Rananant Meeting Room, 5th Floor, Ministry of Labour.
Mr. Pairoj thanked all participants for joining the meeting to establish a labour mechanism under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity to strengthen the supply chain today. The cooperation framework is part of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity on strengthening supply chains initiated by the United States, which includes issues related to labour rights in the supply chain. Thailand signed the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity on strengthening supply chains on November 14, 202,3, at the IPEF Ministerial Meeting in San Francisco, the United States. He said that Thailand must comply with many labour obligations. Therefore, today’s meeting had the objective of finding guidelines for domestic operations for labour mechanisms in accordance with the obligations under the IPEF on the supply chain. There is a complex mechanism that relevant agencies should jointly understand and determine the mechanism within the country together.
“I thank you all, especially representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Industry, for the comments and suggestions that are useful in determining labour mechanisms to implement under the commitments from the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity on strengthening supply chains. The Ministry of Labour will expedite actions in the relevant areas as a result of today’s meeting resolution and coordinate and notify relevant agencies to reach an agreement to become effective,” Mr. Pairoj said.
