Article by: MEGA Tech Magazine
For half a year, the entire world has been confronted with the epidemic of Covid-19. All sectors have received effects differently. For the industrial sector, the amount of damages is high. However, the propulsion of large projects that supports the growth of the country will be continued, as the development of infrastructure within the Eastern Economic Corridor, which is one of the development plans in the Eastern Economic Corridor (ECC) project.
Investment money of 1.6 trillion baht from 2020 to 2024
The construction of 4 Mega Project with the total investment money of 1.6 trillion baht has begun, including the Oil Refinery Expansion Project with the project value of 730,000 million baht; the High-Speed Rail Linked 3 Airports Project with the project value of 200,000 million baht; U-Taphao Development Project and Eastern Airport City with the project value of 330,000 baht; and Laem Chabang Port Phase 3 Development Project. The project value of the Oil Refinery Expansion Project that begins in the middle of the year, following by the High-Speed Rail Project, U-Taphao Development Project, and Laem Chabang Port Development Project is 350,000 baht. All of these are expected to be completed within 2024.
ECC lacks 4.7 hundred thousand laborers.
While the estimated number of the demand for personnel in Eastern Special Development Zone in 2019-2023 to support the demand of 10 industrial groups is 475,668 persons, how will the government sector proceed with this problem?
Mega Tech has an opportunity to exchange the opinions in the perspective of those who drive the production and the development of 2 persons, which are Mr. Narong Phaeophonsong, Secretary of Vocational Education Commission, Office of the Vocational Education Commission, Ministry of Education and Mr. Pornsak Pongsakornvanich (Chairman of Aor.KorRorAor. AorSor.), Vice Chairman of Working Group for EEC-HDC Human Development and Managing Director of R.P.S. Supply Company Limited, which is a role of industrial entrepreneur.
Mr. Narong has given the number of personnel needs in Eastern Special Development Zone in 2019-2023 in 6 industrial groups, consisting of motor vehicles of the future; robots; Logistic; and smart electronics. The total number is 155,817 persons according to the breakdown details in the Table.
VEC drives both quantity and quality.
Mr. Narong has stated that the demand for personnel in vocational education comes in the first rank. This is a problem with the Office of the Vocational Education Commission. If looking at the manufacturing industry, there is still a massive shortage of skilled personnel or what is called craftsmen, such as personnel in mechatronics, mold, weld, electricity and electronics, and mechanical factory. These will be planned and developed together with all parts of vocational education. Therefore, the strategy in the driving of human development must involve both quantity and quality.
In the dimension of quantity, there are currently 30% of those who are interested to study in vocational education, compared with the study in Bachelor’s Degree. If looking at an industrial country, like Germany at 70%, the proportion is different. When analyzing the cause, it is found that one part comes from the image and the perspective of parents and society that still feels insecure about the guidelines of vocational education. We also drive to increase the number of learners.
Mr. Narong has stated further that for the drive in the dimension of quality, VEC has proceeded with the operation for some time and will intensively continue doing so under various projects, especially for Excellent Center in 7 matters, starting from those that are relevant with the manufacturing industry. That is to say, Matter 1 is to create the intensity for the bilateral operation by targeting the entrepreneurial companies to accept more students in order to learn on a job according to the regulations of the agreement.
Next, Matter 2 involves the excellent in EEC, which is to enhance the characteristics of job learning with foreign companies and the projects that support the colleges in EEC, covering the colleges in 3 main provinces and 5 sub-provinces, which are Chonburi, Chachoengsao, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Prachin Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Trat, and Sa Kaeo. Matter 3 involves the excellent of a polytechnic in 10 industrial groups by providing short learning programs for those who are interested to develop oneself and the skills for free of charge, starting from 3 weeks to 3 months, which is opened in all colleges of Thailand.
Vice Chairman of Working Group for EEC-HDC Human Development
Managing Director of R.P.S. Supply Company Limited
Mr. Pornsak has added that this measure is considered to be the matter that should be pushed urgently together with the shortage problem and should be consistent with the epidemic of Covid-19 in which it can create more jobs.
Mr. Narong has further mentioned about Matter 4 that involves the upgrading of professions that the colleges have already provided by supporting the budget and the equipment for the operation to become more effective with better quality. For example Weld, aircraft, rail system, mechatronics, and new agriculture. Matter 5 involves the increase of science-based profession by arranging a new system under 13 colleges that are selected and the increase of science-based classroom. Matter 6 involves the use of Strategic Allianz for colleges with advantages and disadvantages that can be exchanged and developed together in order to enhance the strength together. Lastly, Matter 7 is to upgrade the colleges in whole province. For example, Upgrading Phuket Province to become excellent in terms of aviation for the instruction to become in the leading position.
R.P.S. develops the personnel continuously.
While the plan of the government sector is clearly driven, the industrial entrepreneur is supporting the driving of the government sector fully and continuously. In this matter, Mr. Pornsak has revealed that the construction projects of EEC provide good results to us, which can considered to be job creation and an economic stimulus.
For the support of human development with the government sector, R.P.S. Supply Company Limited has continued to accept vocational students in welding since 2015 with the target for students to learn by doing and create various experiences. In the meantime, we provide support in terms of remuneration, accommodation, and supervision. Also, the Company has organized the competition of World Skill, which is organized by the Department of Skill Development and the competition that the Company has organized in INTERMACH.
Another matter that we have been operated continuously is employee development through in-house training and external training. It is known that the welding or the technology that is relevant to the Company is changing and developing all the time. We cannot use the same knowledge to supervise and provide services to our customers. Therefore, we must seriously place importance on this matter.
In this crisis with Covid-19, we cannot fully say when it will end. In this condition of labor shortage, the current investment of the government sector is an opportunity for the entrepreneur to adjust oneself urgently during this time, especially in the skill training and the manpower development in the organization, in order to become ready to take part in the operation of each project. So, it is time for us to review whether we will be ready to receive and seize this opportunity or not.