Workers must be protected once AEC starts: Labour Ministry
The Labour Ministry's Social Security Office has called for the protection of Asean workers to help the region realise its potential following the full implementation of the Asean Economic Community next year.
Labour permanent secretary Jirasuk Sugandhajati, who is also acting Labour Minister, said that Thailand's participation in the AEC would lead to crucial changes, especially regarding politics, security, the economy, society and culture.
Jirasuk said in light of the expectation that the Asean community would deliver peaceful and prosperous societies where the well-being of people was paramount, Asean workers would be key players in enhancing social development and economic competitiveness in the region.
Supporting workers with effective social protection measures was crucial if this was to be achieved.
Bangkok hosted the International Conference on Strengthening Social Protection for the Asean Community this month.
The event attracted more than 300 representatives from social security organisations and served as a platform for exchanging knowledge among Asean social security organisations.
The key panel topics included the social protection floor, the extension of social security coverage to informal labour, who make up most of the workforce in the region, and social protection for people living abroad.
The conference was divided into three themes - Development and Trends of Social Protection: From Past to Future; Extending Social Security Coverage to Informal Workers; and Providing Social Security to Citizens Working or Living Overseas.
"This conference is a major step for the SSO [the Social Security Office] as the proactive performance leading to it becoming the leader in social security, enhancing [social security] organisations to meet the international standard, and building strong co-operations among several countries," Jirasuk said
Source : www.nationmultimedia.com
