BANGKOK, 5 February 2015 – The Ministry of Labour (MOL) is gathering the information on the informal workers from related agencies in an attempt to improve the livelihood of the workers in compliance with the government’s policy, said an official.
The MOL Permanent-Secretary Nakorn Silpa-archa revealed the ministry’s plan in improving the livelihoods of informal workers during his opening speech of the 2012-2016 Informal Workers Management Strategy Pushing Seminar.
He has said that the MOL and the government perceives the importance of informal workers, who make up 62 percent of the entire country’s workerforce. Informal workers will require skill development the same way that formal workers do in order to improve their livelihoods.
The MOL Permanent-Secretary also initiated a brainstorming session with the seminar participants in order to discuss and present ideas for implementation in tackling other issues such as informal loans, and to promote the developmental policies to the government’s project.
He has said that the government has noted how the Social Security Office can provide the money from their funding to help informal workers, especially through a financial aid package of low-interest investment fund sources. However this requires the setting up of a strong group or network of occupations.
The 2012-2016 Informal Workers Management Strategy Pushing Seminar will commence during 5-6 February 2015 at the Princeton Park Suites Hotel, Bangkok with about 170 participants from government agencies and the informal workers delegates attending this seminar.
The MOL currently has coordinated with related agencies from for informal workers from 30 provinces such as Chiang Rai, Nan, Phrae, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Chonburi, Phatthalung, and Phuket.
