20 Provinces Meet to Improve Employment in Thailand’s Highland Region

 | Wed 22 Apr 2015 06:43 ICT

CityNews – A meeting in support of employment for residents of Thailand’s highland region was held at Duangtawan Hotel Chiang Mai on April 21st. The meeting was presided by Sumet Mahosot, director general of the Department of Employment.

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The event was joined by around 100 authorities and representatives from 20 provinces — Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Payao, Nan, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Tak, Phetchabun, Loei, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Kamphaengphet, Kanchanaburi, Uthai Thani, Suphanburi, Ratchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Phetchaburi to exchange opinions and report information.

According to Director General Sumet, the meeting aims to set up practices and guidelines to support employment in the highland region. The Department of Employment introduced the project as following the royal initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who has cared for residents, especially tribal people, who have problems with social welfare. The project also intends to follow the policy of NCOP’s chief and the prime minister.

People of the highland region face problems with careers and job hunting which many try to avoid by finding work in larger cities. This often results in problems of human and drug trafficking, as well as being deceived to work both in and outside of the country.

These groups of tribal people have limited opportunity to access services and welfare of government institutes.

The project will help highland people procure employment and gain income. The flow of labor will be organized systemically, helping solve problems of unemployment while highlanders await a new growing season, as well as reducing problems of a lack of labor employers.

In Chiang Mai, there are around 35,000 people, who have asked for assistance in finding employment.

There are many points that need to be addressed in order to modernize the project, such as the restriction on highlanders from selling electronics like cameras. “This rule is old-fashioned,” Sumet Mahosot says. “It has to be improved.”