Title: Increase in temporary funds for living expenses/subsistence for state-owned enterprises’ employees
The cabinet approved an increase in temporary funds for living expenses/subsistence for state-owned enterprises’ employees according to the resolution from the Committee on State-owned Enterprise Labor Relations 2/2555 on February 27, 2012 due to the proposal from Ministry of Labor.
1. Terminating the cabinet resolution on October 14, 2008 title: an increase in temporary funds for living expenses/subsistence for state-owned enterprises’ employees (article 2.1)
2. Formulating finance-related employment limit according to article 13 (2) of the Royal Decree on State-owned enterprise labors relations B,E. 2543 which allows each state-owned enterprise to fund employees after the Committee on State-owned Enterprise had approved an increase in temporary funds for living expenses/subsistence for state-owned enterprises’ employees, as follows:
2.1. Payment regulation, ratio, and period are according to the Regulation of Ministry of Finance on temporary funds for living expenses/subsistence payment
2.2. Utilizing each state-owned enterprise’s budget
The aforementioned temporary funds for living expenses/subsistence is not considered salary and a base for benefit calculation, and is temporary. In case the cabinet terminates the temporary funds for living expenses/subsistence, state-owned enterprise needs to terminate the payment as well.
The cabinet acknowledged a briefing report on the 4th flood victim recovery undertaken by Ministry of Labor as a result of the cabinet resolution on November 8, 2011 [title: a plan/project and budget for flood victim recovery (social affairs)] and the cabinet resolution on December 12, 2011 (title: a summary on the examination of the flood victim recovery expense) proposed by Ministry of Labor.
Ministry of Labor reported that it had completed the plan/project on flood victim recovery according to the cabinet resolution on November 8, 2011 and December 12, 2011 under the government’s mechanism. Currently, Ministry of Labor has completed its task. In this regard, Ministry of Labor would like to report the 4th flood victim recovery undertaken by Ministry of Labor that the flood crisis occurring from September to December, 2011 had contributed to wide destruction of property and loss of lives among employees. According to Natural Disaster Victim Relief Center, Ministry of Labor on April 11, 2012, there were 28,679 companies and companies located in industrial estate in 62 provinces affected by the flood. There also were 993,944 employees affected by the flood. Monitoring the lay off as a result of the flood; on April 17, 2012, 144 companies lay off their employees, and 53,184 employees were laid off. Ministry of Labor as an agency which takes care of labor in the national level undertook several measures to support and relieve affected companies and employees. In this regard, Ministry of Labor had received the central government budget worth 1,882,083,900 Baht and refunded Bureau of the Budget worth 391,585,894.74 Baht. On June 18, 2912, Ministry of Labor utilized the aforementioned budget worth 1,486,299,914.53 Baht and would like to present a briefing report, as follows:
1. Companies and employees relief under the government’s mechanism on flood victim recovery can be divided as a result of target groups, as follows:
1.1. SMEs: a project on lay off prevention and relief was launched.
1.2. Labor: several projects were undertaken such as a project on flood-affected labor meeting, developing flood-victim labor’s skills and returning to companies Social Security with flood victim, urgent employment and skill development for relieving occupational suffering, vacancy provision, reducing loan interest rate for developing labor’s skills to 0.1% by 1 year initiated by Skill Development Promotion Fund, compensating laid-off employees, unemployment assurance according to Social Security law, facilitating Japanese entrepreneurs in flooding areas, and deploying employees to undertake an internship at headquarters abroad.
1.3. Industrial entrepreneurs: a project on employment credit was established.
2. Companies and employees relief undertaken by Ministry of Labor outside the government’s mechanism: several projects were initiated such as friend helps friend, reduction on subsidy to Social Security Fund, and extension or suspension of employer’s subsidy. Those projects were directed, as follows:
1. As a result of flood crisis occurring from September to December, 2011 which hindered employers from paying subsidy in time, flood-affected employers are now allowed to pay the subsidy of September-December, 2011 period by April, 2012. In this regard, employers are exempted from additional payment for September-December payment, 2011 according to the law.
2. Flood-affected employers who fail to pay the subsidy for September-December, 2011 period by April, 2012 need to pay the subsidy for the aforementioned period together with additional payment according to the law starting from the day after September-December, 2011 period is due.
3. Employers need to pay the subsidy for January, 2012 period and beyond within the period stated in the law.
Flood victim recovery project in 6 provinces was undertaken 11 times with 42,642 participants.
The cabinet approved a proposal from Ministry of Finance, as follows:
1. Approving an MOU between the government of Thailand and International Monetary Fund (IMF) according to the draft examined by Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to provide privileges and immunities to IMF’s technical assistance and IMF’s staff working in the office
2. Appointing Governor of the Bank of Thailand or representative to sign the MOU on behalf of the government of Thailand
3. Authorizing the Bank of Thailand to amend the MOU in the field which does not affect the government of Thailand’s commitment on privileges and immunities and staff without presenting to the cabinet for consideration
4. Appointing Ministry of Foreign Affairs to authorize the Bank of Thailand with full powers to take action in involve fields.
The cabinet approved the master plan on public health solution and development among labor residing along the borderlines B.E. 2555-2559 proposed by Ministry of Public Health.
Gist of the 2nd master plan on public health solution and development among labor residing along the borderlines (B.E. 2555-2559), as follows:
1. A framework for the master plan on public health solution and development among labor residing along the borderlines (B.E. 2555-2559)
1.1. The charter on mental health system B.E. 2552 article 4: health is people’s fundamental human rights.
1.2. Covering every group of population residing along Thai borderlines such as Thais, Thai displaced persons, minority people, legal migrant workers, illegal migrant workers, and refugees residing in temporary shelters
1.3. The charter on mental health system B.E. 2552 article 16: healthcare scheme and health protection must reach every person residing in Thailand regardless of economic and social status, physical condition, disability, gender, age, place, nationality, citizenship, religion, culture, belief, and political ideology.
1.4. Decentralization, provincial development strategic plan, and local government’s contribution to public health
1.5. The royal decree on administration B.E. 2534 amended by the royal decree on administration (no.7) B.E. 2550 article 52 paragraph 3 states that “For an integrated management undertaken by provincial authority or provincial group, provincial authority or provincial group can request for budget…” Therefore, provincial authority can employ the strategy stated in the master plan to request for the budget for public health solution and development among labor residing along the borderlines.
1.6. Participation from every sector: public health promotion along the borderlines undertaken by Ministry of Public Health alone cannot be successful since the problem is involved with other governmental agencies, especially other factors concerning health system. Moreover, there are international organizations, and NGOs and/or which give financial support to health promotion among provinces located along the borderlines.
1.7. Main public health situations and problems along the borderline, as follows:
- Infectious disease e.g. Malaria, Tuberculosis, Venereal disease, AIDS, and etc.
- Reproductive, maternal, and child health as well as value of having many children
among migrant workers lead to a higher birthrate of non-Thai children comparing
with Thai children’s birthrate.
- Limits of patients transfer system for further treatment abroad and an exceed
of potential among temporary recovery shelters
- A smuggle to import and export unsafe and illegal health products
- Other factors affecting health system such as unrest along the border,
natural disaster, and unsystematic migrant worker movement
2. Vision: people residing along the borderlines are universally healthy.
3. Mission
3.1. Developing a quality healthcare services
3.2. Encouraging an access to fundamental healthcare services
3.3. Encouraging cooperation and participation from every stakeholder and sector
4. Target groups
4.1. 10 provinces along Thailand-Myanmar borderlines such as Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Maehongsorn, Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi Petchaburi, Prachuapkhirikhan, Chumphon, and Ranong.
4.2. 12 provinces along Thailand-Laos borderlines such as Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Uttaradit, Pitsanulok, Nongkhai, Buengkhan, Loei, Nakhon Panom, Mookdaharn, Amnat Chareon, and Ubonratchathani.
4.3. 7 provinces along Thailand-Cambodia borderlines such as Srisaket, Surin, Ubonratchathani, Burirum, Sakaeo, Chanthaburi, and Trat.
4.4. 4 provinces along Thailand-Malaysia borderlines such as Songkla, Narathiwat, Yala, and Satun.
5. Strategic point for public health solution and development along the borderlines is composed of 4 strategies, as follows:
1st strategy healthcare services system development
2nd strategy access to fundamental healthcare services
3rd strategy cooperation and participation from every sector
4th strategy management
--Cabinet Meeting (Yingluck Shinawatra) July 12, 2012--