Labour minister’s resignation confirmed
The resignation of General Sirichai Distakul from his post as labour minister was confirmed on Thursday by a Prime Minister’s Office announcement published in the Royal Gazette.
The announcement said Sirichai’s resignation was effective since Wednesday, the day when he filed notice.
Speculation about Sirichai’s resignation emerged on Wednesday soon after Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha used his absolute powers under Article 44 of the interim constitution to transfer Varanon Peetiwan, a key Sirichai subordinate, from his post as director-general of the Department of Employment to become deputy permanent secretary of the Labour Ministry.
Three other Labour Ministry officials resigned along with Sirichai.
Prayut has not explained why Varanon’s replacement could not be approved through a Cabinet resolution, as is typical in the reshuffle of high-ranking officials.
A ministry source said the reshuffle was made due to the Employment Department’s failure under Varanon to register significant numbers of migrant workers in line with the new migrant worker law, which will begin to be fully enforced at the end of the year.