The Labour Minister visited Mukdahan for a consultative meeting between the public and private sector on the cooperation to accelerate the production of skilled workers (super workers) and develop manpower in target industries to support Special Economic Zones, promoting border trade and national competitiveness.
On November 9, 2018, at 09.30 hours, Labour Minister H.E. Police General Adul Sangsingkeo chaired the consultative meeting on labour with the private sector in the Mukdahan Special Economic Zone, which took place at the Mukdahan Skill Development Office. He explained that Mukdahan has been a special economic zone since 2014 and currently has no undergraduate institution, as there are only 2 vocational education institutions that are inadequate both in terms of quantity and quality. In addition, the graduates who enter the workforce are unable to work immediately, requiring time to practice. Soon, there will be the double-track railway from Khon Kaen connecting to Mukdahan which will expand the economic zone in this region. At the provincial level a station and utilities have been prepared to support investment, therefore, relevant sectors need to address the problem of manpower in the area. In the establishment of a Special Economic Zone Development Center, the Ministry of Labour has proposed that the Mukdahan Skill Development Office be the location of the center as it is already ready, whereby relevant units such as the public and private sectors, and educational institutions can work together for better clarity.
Pol.Gen. Adul said that in the proposal, the Ministry of Labour would be accountable for the production of skilled workers (super workers) to support targeted industries in the Special Economic Zone, in line with the management structure, such as the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). It will also provide an agreement between neighboring countries to strengthen cooperation in the development of the Twinning Economic Zone which will allow for the exchange and sharing of knowledge and technology in the development of Special Economic Zones and border trade to Mukdahan.
Furthermore, Pol.Gen. Adul observed vocational training for the elderly and informal workers, which are career promotion activities for the elderly to utilize their aptitude, readiness and interest including the potentials of everyone. It can be used for career development, to create a jobs and sustainable income. Activities also included career promotion among the elderly and programs to develop the potential of low income workers registered under state welfare to create careers and stability in life. The Labour Minister visited the Social Security Relations Section 40 to extend awareness and access to benefits, including understanding of social security law, compensation law and other associated labour law. He also observed the demonstration on solar power to campaign the use of solar energy in manufacturing to help reduce costs and expenses, which will be assigned to the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC) to provide training to interested persons in other provinces.
There are currently 206,631 workers in Mukdahan, consisted of 205,432 employed workers and 1,093 unemployed workers, equivalent to a 0.53 percent unemployment rate (survey data for the third quarter, July to September 2018). There are 1,404 establishments with 12,224 employees, 161,437 informal workers, 46,310 elderly persons and 40,984 insured persons. The total number of foreign workers permitted to work in the province is 1,377 people.
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Division of Public Relations / November 9, 2018
