BANGKOK, March 13 (TNA) – The Labour Ministry on
Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the private sector
and governmental organisations to create jobs for at least 100,000 retirees
this year.
Presiding over the signing ceremony that involved 23
governmental and private organisations, Labour Minister Adul Sangsingkeo said
the organisations started to accept job applications from retirees nationwide
on March 13.
According to the minister, there are about 12 million Thai
people aged 60 years and over and his ministry is trying to find jobs for them.
The jobs include those related to clerks, trade, services, and jobs without any
health and safety threats.
Minimum wages for elderly employees are set at 45 baht per
hour. Their daily work hours are capped at seven hours and their work days are
limited at six per week.
The minister added that he expected at least 100,000 elderly
people would have jobs this year. Of them, 20,000 will have formal jobs.
Companies will hire 15,000 of them and governmental organisations will employ
5,000. The other 80,000 jobs will be in the informal sector. Of the 80,000
workers, 70,000 will be freelancers and 10,000 will work at home.
The project would support income security for elderly people
and reduce the government’s burdens providing welfare for senior citizens, Pol
Gen Adul said.
The signed memorandum of understanding is valid for three
years. The government allows the companies that employ elderly people to deduct
their wages from taxable corporate income. The deduction is two times as much
as the wages of elderly employees but the wages set for the deduction are
capped at 15,000 baht a month.
Elderly people can apply for jobs at employment offices in
all provinces, participating companies, www.Smartjob.doe.go.th and hotline
number 1506. (TNA)
