A Development of Social Welfare System for the Elderly Labors in Informal Sectors to Reduce the Social Inequality in Special Economic Zone: A Case Study of Sa Kaeo Special Economic Zone

Abstract

The principle objective of this research was to research and develop the model of social welfare system for the elderly labors in informal sectors in order to reduce social inequality in the special economic zone. The researchers collected data in the field by employing the questionnaires, interview and focus group discussion. The research found that the level of social welfare accessibility and social welfare need of the elderly labors in informal sectors in the special economic zone were at the high level ( = 3.54, S.D. = 0.57 and  = 3.95, S.D. = 0.81 respectively) and as the level of priority need index (PNI), the economics aspect is the highest level (PNI = 0.24). and the research also found that there were two main existing social welfare systems in the areas which were 1) social welfare system providing by the government and 2) social welfare system providing by family and community. The impacts of the special economic zone policy implementation in Sa Kaeo province were both positive and negative impacts. The negative impact causes the problem of social inequality and the attitudes of the informal aging labor were optimistic towards the special economic zone policy because it will bring about the progression in the area. In addition, the researcher synthesized the appropriate model of social welfare system which was called “ELDERFARE model” that composed of E (Elderly Centered), L (Local Government Organizations), D (Doctors and Public Health Care System), E (Enterprise and Investors Responsibility), R (Rights of Community), F (Family Link), A (Agricultural Contribution), R (Rural Community Exploitation) and E (Economic Concerned)