Newly-appointed ministers start working today

BANGKOK, Dec 1 (TNA) – Newly –appointed cabinet members started working today after they took the oath before HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn at the Amphorn Satharn Villa in the Dusit Palace yesterday. The latest cabinet reshuffle involved 18 positions and brought ten newcomers to the fifth cabinet under Gen Pratyut Chan-o-cha. New Labour Minister, Pol Gen Adul Sangsingkeo says urgent work to be completed is new regulations on migrant workers, labour welfare. Tackling forced labour and human trafficking is also one of the priorities. Today, he will also travel to the service centre for migrant workers in Samut Prakarn province. Meanwhile, the new deputy premier, Gen Chatchai Sarikulya said His Majesty the King yesterday told the cabinet members to work with honesty. His Majesty the King said their work is to take care of the people, who expect to see happiness. It is usual to face problems, but they must use their capability, patience and determination to achieve the target. Gen Chatchai said he was ready for the works assigned by the prime minister. As the ex-agriculture minister, he said he believed the new agriculture minister would be able to work well with two new deputies, appointed to help him. The new PM’s Office Minister, Kobsak Pootrakool said it was a challenge to finish work in the short period of one year. He believed all cabinet members would complete the reform for the people in the coming year. He expected to be part of the economic issue team and he would use this opportunity to implement the policies to help people at the grassroots. His Majesty the King told us to follow the path of His Majesty late King Bhumibol, who saw the importance of the country’s development in rural areas, Kobsak said. "In the past 30-40 years, we focus on development of industry and large-scaled businesses, so the development is concentrated in the capital. We will adopt the late King teachings to make people have a good living first, which will lead to the truly sustainable development", he added. (TNA)