Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Thailand (Ratification: 1969)

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Government indicates in its report that under the 2nd SME Promotion Master Plan for 2007–11 about 1,475,000 workers from SMEs were trained, nearly 123,000 SMEs participated in developing and enhancing their operational efficiency, 133 SMEs took part in the innovation for developing business, and 47 major infrastructure projects were developed to facilitate the operation of SMEs. The 3rd SME Promotion Master Plan for 2012–16 was formulated with five strategies, including building and strengthening the competitiveness of Thai SMEs. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results of the implementation of the 3rd SME Promotion Master Plan for 2012–16 in relation to employment promotion.

Skills development. The Government indicates that the Ministry of Labour implemented the Fund for Skill Development as a mechanism to encourage entrepreneurs to organize skill training for their workers. The Committee notes that the Department of Skill Development also promoted the participation of the representatives of employers and workers in vocational training mechanisms, including the National Board of Vocational Training Coordination and the Skill Development Promotion Committee. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the manner in which the representatives of employers and workers participate in the development of vocational training programmes and measures. It also requests the Government to include the information on the impact of the implementation of skills development measures on employment.

Older workers. The Government indicates that the Department of Employment initiated an activity to provide opportunities to older workers who have experience in vocational guidance and recruitment to work as job officers for jobseekers, as well as projects to provide training courses and to encourage employers to employ older workers. The Government adds that employment promotion for older workers still faces a number of barriers, including their health problems and a shortage of suitable jobs. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results of the measures taken to increase job opportunities for older workers and reduce employment barriers.

Rural workers. The Government indicates that the Project of Emergency Employment was conducted to promote employment and skill development of workers in the rural sector, in which the number of the participants decreased from about 108,000 in 2012 to 67,000 in 2014. Moreover, one of the development strategies of the 11th National Plan of Social and Economic Development for 2012–16 contains creating jobs and income security for farmers. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the implementation of the 11th National Plan of Social Economic Development for 2012–16 with regard to the employment promotion of rural workers.