On July 4, 2024, at 13.30 hours, the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Pairoj Chotikasathien, chaired the opening ceremony of the first Committee Meeting to Drive the Implementation of the Project on the Automotive Industry’s Supply Chain (Thailand). The Director of the International Labour Office for Thailand, Cambodia & the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Ms. Xiaoyan Qian, gave a welcome address and an overview of the project. The Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-General, Mr. Samat Pattamasukon, along with the Ministry of Labour’s senior executives, attended the occasion at the Duangkamon Room, 2nd floor, The Sukosol Hotel, Bangkok.
Mr. Pairoj said that the Ministry of Labour recognizes the importance of workers’ production rights and skill development in the supply chain. It is a crucial mission under the Ministry of Labour’s duties and policy. The automotive sector is vital as Thailand is the leader in automotive production and export in the ASEAN region; it is ranked 10th in the world. The impact of COVID-19 has highlighted the need for governments to promote resilient, inclusive, and sustainable supply chains, with a focus on worker rights and human rights, creating decent work, and upgrading the skills of workers that leave no one behind.
Mr. Pairoj continued that the Ministry of Labour has made continuous efforts in the past to ensure that workers in all sectors receive equal labour rights and protection to support valuable work, allow workers to have careers, and receive appropriate income. It also strives to develop the workforce’s skills to meet the needs of the labour market and support the transition. The Ministry of Labour reaffirms its commitment to achieving these objectives through continuing to work with all parties.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Japanese government for providing funding support for the implementation of 2 ILO projects under the Automotive Industry Supply Chain Project (Thailand), namely the Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Supply Chains Asia or RISSC Project for three years between September 2022 to September 2025 and the project to develop workers skills and conduct responsible business for transition or the SKILLS project for a period of 2 years between April 2023 to March 2025. This committee will have the authority and responsibility to oversee the implementation of both projects closely. On behalf of the Ministry of Labour, I am delighted to be a part of this project and ready to work with all sectors to promote a flexible, comprehensive, and sustainable supply chain, including developing labour skills in accordance with responsible business practices and valuable work to support the transition in Thailand’s automotive industry,” concluded Mr. Pairoj.
This was the first committee meeting, which will present the history and overview of the project, including past operations, for all meeting attendees to know in the second and third agendas and jointly consider the draft operational plan for 2024 in the fourth agenda. There will also be an open forum for expressing opinions and asking for consensus to implement the draft plan further.
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