Many former inmates, including some convicted of drug trafficking, begin their re-entry into civilian life months before being released from prison by working at a chili sauce factory in Nakhon Sawan.
Nakhon Sawan prison has sent Songpol Seenam-ngern, 27, and Tinnaphop Muanrit, 28, to work at the De Smit Food International factory in Muang district, which produces condiment sauces for domestic sale and export, while keeping tabs on them with electronic tags for the past three months.
Despite now being free after a pardon, Songpol has decided to stay on as a daily worker on the production line, earning a minimum wage of 320 baht a day and 90 baht per hour for overtime work.
Songpol said he was arrested for trafficking 100 meth pills and sentenced to 10 years in jail but after serving eight years, finally received his pardon.
During his imprisonment, he made paper bags and worked in the water filtration area, skills he says would be hard to apply in real life.
So the prison sent him to weigh food ingredients at the factory, which held out better prospects for him.
Meanwhile, Tinnaphop, also a drug convict, said he was sentenced to three years in jail and is also now free. He is glad the factory gave him a chance to work. Both say they will never repeat the mistakes of their past.
According to the Department of Corrections, up to 150,000 inmates are discharged every year but the ratio of reoffenders continues to increase -- from 15% in 2014 to 36% in 2018. Offering an opportunity to work after being released is one solution to help them make a success of their lives, according to the department.
On May 5, the cabinet extended a tax reduction of 50% to Dec 31, offered to companies who employ former convicts.
Songpol and Tinnaphop said they were happy to work at the factory as their colleagues had treated them well despite their crimes.
Factory assessment officer Pattamaporn Lhamdee said the company has so far hired about 30 convicts due to a shortfall of labour in the industry.
The convicts liked their jobs because they have an opportunity to make a living and have freedom, he said.