Bosses size up inmates for careers
KHON KAEN: Potential employers yesterday attended a job recruitment fair at Khon Kaen Central Prison, held to find work for inmates due to be released soon.
The event to encourage inmates to obtain employment after their release was part of a Ministry of Justice scheme to prevent inmates re-offending.
Corrections Department deputy director-general, Ayuth Sinthoppant said the initial goal was to find employment for 150 inmates with 50 employers. During their prison terms, the inmates received vocational training based on their interests and aptitudes, Mr Ayuth said.
The courses were supervised by teachers and experts from various institutes to make sure inmates’ skills would be on par with national occupational skill standards. The department invited business operators to attend so they could see for themselves the inmates’ potential.
“Jobs that require traditional skills featured highly here. Today, many inmates were interviewed by employers from several fields such as mechanics, beauty, construction, agriculture,” Mr Ayuth said.
The prison also gave six former inmates financial aid ranging from 20,000 baht to 50,000 baht to help boost their careers: three were beauticians, while the others were selling ice-cream, noodles and coffee. The amount provided to each former inmate was undisclosed. Ex-convicts who qualify for the grant must apply within a year of their release.