Labour Ministry expects jobs for at least 100,000 elderly people

BANGKOK, March 14 (TNA) -- The Labour Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with the private sector and governmental organizations to create jobs for at least 100,000 retirees this year. Presiding over the signing ceremony that involved 23 governmental and private organizations, Labour Minister Adul Sangsingkeo said the organizations started to accept job applications from retirees nationwide on March 13. According to him, 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 said 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 organizations 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, Mr 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)