The Ministry of Labour has implemented several measures to help employers and employees affected by flooding in nine southern province, which include 4,000 manual jobs for unskilled and migrant workers at 300 baht/day for ten days and low-interest soft loans for motorcycle and electrical appliance repair businesses and workshops.
The other measures include loans from the Labour Fund, to be extended to employees for house repairs, loans from the Safety Fund for employers to repair their damaged equipment and machinery, 50% of their salaries for six months for workers who are made redundant by the flooding, funeral expenses not exceeding 50,000 baht for insured workers and 25,000 baht for the uninsured and the opening of 48 workshops to repair motorcycles and electrical appliances.
Additionally, the Labour Skill Development Department has sent teams of mechanics to join skilled workers from the private and government sectors to help to repair houses, vehicles and household equipment free of charge.
Meanwhile, the Commerce Ministry has coordinated with product manufacturers and modern trade outlets to offer discounts of up to 80% on their products, such as electrical appliances and construction materials, to flood victims.
Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said that the ministry has planned a program to offer business opportunities in the franchise sector to small-scale business operators.
During her recent visit to Hat Yai, in the company of the prime minister, she said that the private sector had submitted several proposals to the government, including debt moratoria for affected businesses, tax reductions and soft loans for the tourism industry.
The Commerce Ministry has launched three phases of assistance programs. The first involves the distribution of relief materials to flood victims in six southern provinces. The second, to be implemented this month and next, focuses on offering discounted goods to flood victims and job creation.
The third phase focuses on economic recovery, which includes the promotion of franchise businesses, product exhibitions, the provision of financial advice on access to financial sources and business matching.
