Prayut pledges to improve quality of life of workers

[Lite Beer]

Prayut pledges to improve quality of life of workers

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha today promised to improve the quality of life among workers and ensured that no worker will be left unemployed.

His pledge and assurance came as he chaired the May Day celebration of Thai workers at Sanam Luang Saturday morning.

Thousands of workers from two major state unions, Thai Labour Solidarity Committee (TLSC ), and State Enterprises Workers Relation Confederation (SERC), formed long colourful procession along the Rajdamnoen Avenue before marching pass the Democracy Monument to Sanam Luang, the venue of the celebration.

Gen Prayut chaired the opening of the May Day celebration with assurance that the Thai workers will get better quality of life and better livelihood under the implementation of several schemes of the government to help Thai labour.

Representatives of the two state unions two unions then submitted a 11-point demand to the prime minister to consider,

Significant demands are the increase of minimum wage to 350-360 baht from the current 300 baht, efficient control of consumers products prices and offering better healthcare treatment for workers under the social security scheme, put an end to all attempts to privatise state enterprises, and the ratification of the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Convention No.187 on a Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health.

Gen Prayut told workers that he as ready to accept all the demands for consideration so as to make their quality of lives better.

But he said some demands could not be carried out immediately but would take time, while telling the workers that they also have to improve their labour skills to meet the market demand.

He also disclosed that since his government came in office, over ten thousand of investors have applied for promotion.

He then assured that with the large v private investment, it was certain that in future no worker would be left unemployed.

He said unemployment rate of Thai workers could be the best in ASEAN or might be the least in the world.

He said what he pledged and assured would be all handled seriously, stating that as he is a soldier and not a politician, what he said will turn actions.

As The Nation Reported, earlier in the day, some 200 workers led by Somsak Kosaisuk, a labour leader, also staged a rally in front of Parliament a to mark the celebration of the Labour Day.

They blocked rads in front of Parliament and nearby to hold the Labour Day activities.

Somsak said the workers would like to call on Prime Minister Prayut to invoke Article 44 of the interim charter to tackle the economic gaps for the workers.

Yesterday Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon disclosed after chairing a meeting on promotion of workplace safety that a master plan has been drawn up to bring about a better quality of life for workers by improving safety standards where they work.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/prayut-pledges-to-improve-quality-of-life-of-workers

-- Thai PBS 2015-05-01

[clockman]

With no transparency, who knows employment figures? All i ever see are Burmese workers!

[djjamie]

With no transparency, who knows employment figures? All i ever see are Burmese workers!

The official unemployment rate is below.

Bloomberg has done a piece here explaining why the unemployment rate is so low as well.

[Srikcir]

With no transparency, who knows employment figures? All i ever see are Burmese workers!

The official unemployment rate is below.

Bloomberg has done a piece here explaining why the unemployment rate is so low as well.

When you add to the employment equation the thousands of young men conscripted into military service and retail store employees where one out of three is actually contributing revenues, a 1% unemployed would equate to 5%.

Edited May 1, 2015 by Srikcir

[Srikcir]

"stating that as he is a soldier and not a politician"

Prayut is a holder of public office - Head of Government. The military does not have the rank of Prime Minister though it would be closer to reality if it did.

Prayut is a politician. He negotiates government positions with a variety of special interest groups that seek out special treatment. He uses the treasury to buy potential protester silence, cooperation, and loyalty. He has imposed on the Thai public HIS ideology and national policies. It is irrelevant how he became the PM from the viewpoint of a politician. The fact is that HoG is the highest political position in a nation.

He may not seek election as PM when he decides to allow elections, but that doesn't diminish his actions as HoG. And last known, Prayut did retire from the armed forces as a soldier, albeit he has retained his position as Chief of the NCPO.

Prayut is a politician, just not an elected one.

Edited May 1, 2015 by Srikcir

[baboon]

So how much longer does he plan on sticking around, exactly?

[djjamie]

With no transparency, who knows employment figures? All i ever see are Burmese workers!

The official unemployment rate is below.

Bloomberg has done a piece here explaining why the unemployment rate is so low as well.

When you add to the employment equation the thousands of young men conscripted into military service and retail store employees where one out of three is actually contributing revenues, a 1% unemployed would equate to 5%.

So you agree then that the official unemployment rate that is recognized globally by economists is 0.82% then?

[Plutojames88]

More theatre .

He has not the foresight to envision crushing sanctions ahead and ultimately confrontation with the west.

He won't be around for anything.

As for making work more safe?

""It's not safe to be critical of the Government " ( including work)

Ten thousand asked for promotions?

People want promotions as he claims ,because their debts are crippling and wife's are wearing lipstick and going to bars to help out.

This country is flooded with mindless noodle eating Chinese while Rome burns....and TAt counts anything that moves as a high end "" quality Tourist "" ( or is it now just human will do?)

I liked his advise to workers to become more skilful ......coming from a guy who throws banana peels at press confrences and claims his wise leader status to all .

Comical stuff

Edited May 1, 2015 by Plutojames88

[Happy Grumpy]

So how much longer does he plan on sticking around, exactly?

Til everyone unsuitable is purged and the unmentionable is history.

Another few years. No rush.

[choff56]

So how much longer does he plan on sticking around, exactly?

2015 - 2020

Stability Prosperity Sustainability

With propagana like this, I'm guessing at least 5 years.

[tonbridgebrit]

General, you want to improve things for workers ? Off-course, for Thai workers, not foreign workers, right ?

Okay Sir, how about this. You target the illegal migrant workers (the vast bulk of them are from Burma, Laos and Cambodia) in Thailand and send them all back to where they come from. And don't let them come back in as registered workers. It would be even better if you then went onto targeting registered un-skilled and semi-skilled workers from Cambodia, Laos and Burma, and have some of them sent home when their work permits expire. Basically, those foreign workers are competing with the Thai workers, and they're keeping wages down.

I'ill give an example. Practically nobody in Thailand wants to be a toilet cleaner, now, but Thailand does need toilet cleaners. Okay, with no cheap foreigners here, well, only Thais can clean toilets. 300 baht per day, well, half of all public toilets in Thailand are not going to be cleaned. But if the pay was 500 baht per day, hey, most of the vacancies might be filled. And at 650 baht per day, well, maybe, just maybe, there will be enough Thais doing jobs as a toilet cleaner to have every public toilet clean. We're talking about improving things for Thai workers. Who cares anyway if a load of Cambodians, Burmese and Laos people are sent home. Thailand is about the Thais, it's not about them foreigners from Thailand's neighbouring countries. And anyway, are Burma, Laos and Cambodia, are they really going to have a pop at Thailand for sending their own people back home ? Surely not ??

[Andreas2]

The problem is, that there is a very strong believe in governments; This religion is global, including the West, especially.

Right now, as it seems, the people believe everywhere that it is possible to vote or demand themselves out of poverty into prosperity. And the state, in its infallibility, uses this supersition deliberately to give the impression that it can achieve any economical task.
To be clear, it really doesn't matter if it is a junta or a democracy.

In a democracy, that's what we Westerners have learnt, the majority is always right, mature and educated, ochlocracy is something from the past. As the people are continuously mislead by their religious believe in their leaders, it really doesn't matter what they vote, left, right, center, whatever. Voters are quite easily to handle, as long as they do it again and again, giving their APPROVAL TO THE SYSTEM by just voting for whatever colour.
If democracy would change anything fundamentally, it would be illegal by now.

So, if Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha with all his power pledges to his fellow citizens in his country to improve their quality of life, he may mean it honestly, but he will economically fail as well as all of his (elected) predecessors. His altruistic tasks can only be financed by robbing and punishing the productive part of the people. This concept has and will never work in the long run; It is not sustainable. Just in case you haven't heard of it: There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

"No worker will be left unemployed" sounds extremely seductive but it's an empty, naïve fallacy. That's why I'm afraid that it will raise unrealizable expectations and thus could become quite dangerous for minorities like "greedy, rich farang" employers. We could always be an easy target for failed, unrealistic policies.

Edited May 1, 2015 by Andreas2

[thesetat2013]

Is Prayuth going to pay all of the peoples huge debts so their lives can be improved and the people can start saving money and working to have a better quality of life. From another related article most Thais are working just to pay debt and having a hard time doing just that alone

[Thaddeus]

All the eggs are in one basket and they will all hatch because I've ordered it.

[Mr Somtam]

Hammock swinging counts as work? Aha, now I see!

[fareastguy]

The impossible takes time.. miracles take a lot longer... maybe a "promise too far"

[Suffinator]

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha today promised to improve the quality of life among workers and ensured that no worker will be left unemployed.

More BS

[Sealbash]

Is Prayuth going to pay all of the peoples huge debts so their lives can be improved and the people can start saving money and working to have a better quality of life. From another related article most Thais are working just to pay debt and having a hard time doing just that alone

If the person can not pay the debt, perhaps they borrowed too much? Is this unique to Thailand?

[yellowboat]

Again no plan, just talk. No specifics mentioned. Also where do Thais go to learn new skills or update old ones. ?

[selftaopath]

In and around our village there is little to no industry. Some female villagers seem content to doing a chore/job on occasion e.g. cut rice. There seems to be little prospect for employment, educational standards seem low, skilled workers seem non existent, and frankly it seems like the main interest is in socializing vie various ceremonies which are frequent.

My wife has solicited men in the village to do various odd jobs for us at a higher than average wage, but few seem to want to engage in physical labor.

[trainman34014]

Oh dear; another promise on the list of 'must do's '. I guess we are into several pages by now !

[Mr Somtam]

In and around our village there is little to no industry. Some female villagers seem content to doing a chore/job on occasion e.g. cut rice. There seems to be little prospect for employment, educational standards seem low, skilled workers seem non existent, and frankly it seems like the main interest is in socializing vie various ceremonies which are frequent.

My wife has solicited men in the village to do various odd jobs for us at a higher than average wage, but few seem to want to engage in physical labor.

Strange we haven't met eachother yet, we live in the same village!

[dageurreotype]

"stating that as he is a soldier and not a politician"

Prayut is a holder of public office - Head of Government. The military does not have the rank of Prime Minister though it would be closer to reality if it did.

Prayut is a politician. He negotiates government positions with a variety of special interest groups that seek out special treatment. He uses the treasury to buy potential protester silence, cooperation, and loyalty. He has imposed on the Thai public HIS ideology and national policies. It is irrelevant how he became the PM from the viewpoint of a politician. The fact is that HoG is the highest political position in a nation.

He may not seek election as PM when he decides to allow elections, but that doesn't diminish his actions as HoG. And last known, Prayut did retire from the armed forces as a soldier, albeit he has retained his position as Chief of the NCPO.

Prayut is a politician, just not an elected one.

No. He's not.

[dageurreotype]

In and around our village there is little to no industry. Some female villagers seem content to doing a chore/job on occasion e.g. cut rice. There seems to be little prospect for employment, educational standards seem low, skilled workers seem non existent, and frankly it seems like the main interest is in socializing vie various ceremonies which are frequent.

My wife has solicited men in the village to do various odd jobs for us at a higher than average wage, but few seem to want to engage in physical labor.

I feel ya brotha

[dageurreotype]

So how much longer does he plan on sticking around, exactly?

My best guess is that when people wake up and realise they've been duped and that 'new boss same as the old boss' is standard in a country who's democracy has never been allowed to develop.

Edited May 2, 2015 by dageurreotype

[midas]

Is Prayuth going to pay all of the peoples huge debts so their lives can be improved and the people can start saving money and working to have a better quality of life. From another related article most Thais are working just to pay debt and having a hard time doing just that alone

If the person can not pay the debt, perhaps they borrowed too much? Is this unique to Thailand?

Rising household debt casts doubt over Thailand’s economic revival

Financial Times April 16, 2015

http://www.ft.com/in...l#axzz3YtlxuhEO

[Squeegee]

The problem is, that there is a very strong believe in governments; This religion is global, including the West, especially.

Right now, as it seems, the people believe everywhere that it is possible to vote or demand themselves out of poverty into prosperity. And the state, in its infallibility, uses this supersition deliberately to give the impression that it can achieve any economical task.

To be clear, it really doesn't matter if it is a junta or a democracy.

In a democracy, that's what we Westerners have learnt, the majority is always right, mature and educated, ochlocracy is something from the past. As the people are continuously mislead by their religious believe in their leaders, it really doesn't matter what they vote, left, right, center, whatever. Voters are quite easily to handle, as long as they do it again and again, giving their APPROVAL TO THE SYSTEM by just voting for whatever colour.

If democracy would change anything fundamentally, it would be illegal by now.

So, if Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha with all his power pledges to his fellow citizens in his country to improve their quality of life, he may mean it honestly, but he will economically fail as well as all of his (elected) predecessors. His altruistic tasks can only be financed by robbing and punishing the productive part of the people. This concept has and will never work in the long run; It is not sustainable. Just in case you haven't heard of it: There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

"No worker will be left unemployed" sounds extremely seductive but it's an empty, naïve fallacy. That's why I'm afraid that it will raise unrealizable expectations and thus could become quite dangerous for minorities like "greedy, rich farang" employers. We could always be an easy target for failed, unrealistic policies.

Very nice post. You're not kidding that the quote: "No worker will be left unemployed" sounds extremely seductive but it's an empty, naïve fallacy." It seems an habitual thing for Thai politicians and their ilk to make such unrealistic claims. Whilst he and his kind are 'eradicating' and 'solving' things the rest of the world generally grows up and learns to negotiate the real world.

This is not the lunatics in charge of the asylum, this is the toddlers in charge of the kindergarten.

[connda]

He better figure out how to keep the average Thai from being financially under-water like about 60% of his country is at the moment. I can't figure out how the average Somchai is able to afford the car payment on the new HiLux let alone put gas in it.

Hey, I know. Extend more credit to the average folks. Back it with government guarentees. That'll do the trick...well, until the entire system implodes making 1997 look like a cakewalk.

[connda]

The problem is, that there is a very strong believe in governments; This religion is global, including the West, especially.

Right now, as it seems, the people believe everywhere that it is possible to vote or demand themselves out of poverty into prosperity. And the state, in its infallibility, uses this supersition deliberately to give the impression that it can achieve any economical task.

To be clear, it really doesn't matter if it is a junta or a democracy.

In a democracy, that's what we Westerners have learnt, the majority is always right, mature and educated, ochlocracy is something from the past. As the people are continuously mislead by their religious believe in their leaders, it really doesn't matter what they vote, left, right, center, whatever. Voters are quite easily to handle, as long as they do it again and again, giving their APPROVAL TO THE SYSTEM by just voting for whatever colour.

If democracy would change anything fundamentally, it would be illegal by now.

So, if Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha with all his power pledges to his fellow citizens in his country to improve their quality of life, he may mean it honestly, but he will economically fail as well as all of his (elected) predecessors. His altruistic tasks can only be financed by robbing and punishing the productive part of the people. This concept has and will never work in the long run; It is not sustainable. Just in case you haven't heard of it: There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

"No worker will be left unemployed" sounds extremely seductive but it's an empty, naïve fallacy. That's why I'm afraid that it will raise unrealizable expectations and thus could become quite dangerous for minorities like "greedy, rich farang" employers. We could always be an easy target for failed, unrealistic policies.

There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

No kidding. That was one of the first lessons I learned in life. However, the more that people depend on centralized power and 'nanny-state', populace policy, the more 'free lunches" are promised and expected.

[Thai at Heart]

With no transparency, who knows employment figures? All i ever see are Burmese workers!

The official unemployment rate is below.

Bloomberg has done a piece here explaining why the unemployment rate is so low as well.

When you add to the employment equation the thousands of young men conscripted into military service and retail store employees where one out of three is actually contributing revenues, a 1% unemployed would equate to 5%.

So you agree then that the official unemployment rate that is recognized globally by economists is 0.82% then?

Which is explained away in the article. Thailand is matching apples and pears.