BANGKOK, 27 November 2014 – Prisoners would be allowed to be gainfully employed outside their cells, following the Department of Employment’s proposal to allow them to work in the fishery industry.
Director General of the Department of Employment Sumet Mahosot has conveyed his idea to Mr. Wittaya Suriyawong, the Director of the Department of Corrections, about letting inmates work on a fishing vessel.
Both have agreed to the idea under 3 conditions: Prisoners should only work on a voluntary basis; they must be informed of work conditions beforehand, and must at all times protected by Thai labor laws. Mr. Sumet said these conditions needed to be strictly enforced to prevent any types of abuse.
The Corrections Department Director also proposed that the inmates aged between 18-25 years old who have almost completed their terms join the pilot program, which will be held in Samut Sakorn province on a trial basis.
More discussions will have to be held to determine how the employment program should be carried out as well as the number of inmates participating in it.
