Permanent Secretary of Labour M.L. Puntrik Smiti chaired the commencement of the action plan workshop for the Informal Worker Management Strategy 2017 – 2021, which took place at the Berkley Prathunam Hotel. The workshop was organized for relevant agencies to form actions plans together, aimed to promote protection and development of informal workers, using the strategy as a guideline to implement effective policies at the local level. She said that informal workers, totaling over half of the whole workforce with a population of 21.3 million in 2016, are an important component of economic growth. From this statistic, 54.8 percent come from the agricultural industry, 34.0 percent from the trade and services industry and 11.3 from the manufacturing industry.
The Permanent Secretary continued to explain the Ministry of Labour’s policies on professional promotion to increase income and issue ministerial regulations to provide social protection to workers in all sectors, particularly those in agriculture and household jobs. Though full coverage of the informal worker population may not be possible, all units are gearing towards increased coverage. For example, the Social Security Office is under consideration for protection of informal workers under Section 40 which comprises 2 million people, enabling more channels to access social security and protection. The Department of Employment has made efforts to promote funding for household workers and freelancers, whereas the Department of Skills Development has initiated technological training to boost flexibility among the workforce.
Director of the Thailand Development Research Institute Foundation (TDRI), Dr. Yongyuth Chalamwong, has accelerated informal worker management strategies to promote participation from all stakeholders. This will be presented to the central then national committee, where the Prime Minister will consider approval for relevant budgets at the local level.
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Spokesperson and Publication Sub-Division/
Bureau of Public Relations/
Chaninthorn Phettab – News/
Butsarakorn Tuidoi – Photos/
14 March 2017
