dtac Responsible Business

How mobile operator can play role in safeguarding and promoting human rights in the digital age

After the conclusion of World War II, the global community came to realize the devastating effects of war and genocide. As a result, international laws protecting human rights were developed on the principle that all individuals possess inherent equality in rights and dignity. On December 10th, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly officially adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which serves as the foundation for the global protection of human rights. Today, human rights continue to be a global concern, but as more and more individuals access the digital realm, new opportunities and challenges related to human rights have emerged. The digital transformation has brought about both positive and negative impacts on human rights, from the ability to freely express oneself online to the rise of cyberbullying and online harassment. dtacblog spoke with Rachaya Kulnapongse, dtac’s Head of Sustainability, about the mobile operator’s stance in protecting and promoting human rights, the human rights due diligence process, and emerging human rights risks that come with digital advancement. Connectivity is a Basic Right “Digital inclusion or digital access is always a significant focus in the field of telecommunication. We focus on three areas to promote this: ensuring access to internet-enabled…

Meet the two finalist teams from the “Battle for Better” inter-school debate competitions

The “Battle for Better” #BraveAgainstCyberbullying debate tournament, which was the collaboration between dtac and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), has already concluded. Hailing from the private sector, dtac has supported the competition in the Month of Youth under the “BKK Rangers: Children for Better Urban Changes” theme. The last round of the debate pitched the Matthayom Prachanitwet School’s team against the Wat Pak Bor School’s team, where the former emerged as winners. dtacblog sat down with the two finalist teams to dive into the behind the scenes and how they got themselves prepared for the competition. From the Matthayom Prachanitwet School are Juthawat Bintasurasee, Piyapat Niyomsit, Ailada Khumtrakul, and their mentor and teacher Tanawit Saengnarin. The counterparts from the Wat Pak Bor School team are Sasiwan Suaipring, Kawin Changkham, Thanakorn Pimpho, and their teacher-mentor Darat Chukong. First Time Joining Debate Competition “All my team members are interested in public speaking, and we were quick to apply upon hearing about the debate competition. But the path to the contest was not rosy. More than 10 students in our school submitted their application for the competition. So, we all had to go through some internal selection process,” Juthawat from the Matthayom Prachanitwet…

“Always Do the Right Thing”: dtac’s Anti-Corruption Policy in Focus

Today's world is faced with challenges that are complex and difficult to solve, many of which are interconnected and undermining security, prosperity, and social resilience. Ranking among these challenges is corruption, which in the long run weakens social and economic wellbeing, democracy, and the rule of law. To raise awareness of corruption and enlist public support in the battle against corruption, the United Nations (UN) has designated December 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day. Thailand’s corruption has worsened in the past years. According to a report by Transparency International (TI), in 2021, the country ranked 110th out of 180 countries on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) — falling six spots down the global rankings since 2020. The report also pointed out that cooperation between political bodies and the private sector is the key to combating corruption. dtacblog spoke to Stephen Helwig, Interim Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of dtac, to find out more about the mobile operator’s best practices in preventing corrupt practices and fostering an anti-corruption culture. Do the Right Thing and Be Respectful “At dtac, we always encourage our people to do the right thing and show mutual respect,” Mr. Helwig said. “As a result, we conduct our businesses and…

dtac discloses human rights due diligence findings, reinforcing its commitment to the highest governance standards

dtac is listed as a Thailand Sustainability Investment (THSI) by the Stock Exchange of Thailand, with an impressive score improvement in environment. dtac unveils the top human rights concerns shared by all its stakeholders and commits to driving digital inclusion and meaningful connectivity for all. The company issues a greenhouse gas emissions report for analyzing and monitoring its greenhouse gas emission reduction performance (or Carbon Footprint for Organization), as part of its journey to halving its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Total Access Communication Public Company Limited or dtac reports its sustainability progress in 2022, reinforcing the mobile operator’s commitment to responsible business that brings together digital upskilling, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, integrity, climate change, human rights, supply chain sustainability, and data privacy compliance. The responsible business principle is in line with guidelines of its major shareholder Telenor and other international standards, including UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and ILO Core Conventions. dtac on SET’s Sustainable Stocks In 2022, dtac was listed as a Thailand Sustainability Investment (THSI) by the Stock Exchange of Thailand, with impressive score improvement in environment. The THSI list consists of listed companies that conduct sustainable business operations and pass the Environmental,…

How Digital Skills Help a Formerly Incarcerated Mom Launch a Successful Business

“Take nothing, get nothing, but bear the brunt” is a common Thai saying. It refers to situations in which people receive no benefits from their involvement, but instead suffer all the negative consequences. This saying perfectly encapsulates what happened to Suwimon “Dear” Suk-udomchokechai. An Accidental Criminal A few years ago, Ms. Suwimon worked as a teacher at a small primary school. But when the accountant resigned, certain school executives requested her to take on accounting duties on top of her teaching load, and she agreed. She certified certain key documents as part of her new role. But due to her implicit trust in the school executives, as well as her fledgling accounting knowledge, Ms. Suwimon soon unwittingly became party to corrupt dealings. Irregularities in the school’s accounting papers began to surface in late 2016. A probe identified Ms. Suwimon as the person who certified the documents under investigation. She was charged with embezzlement and was convicted in February 2019. Her sentence could have been as long as 48 years, but being a first-time offender who confessed to her accidental crimes, she was sentenced 20 years – a daunting prospect nonetheless. To make matters worse, during her admission to the Central…

Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection partners with dtac to Provide Digital Upskilling and Livelihood Opportunities for Rehabilitating Youths

November 24, 2022 – The Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection (DJOP) and dtac signed a memorandum of understanding on developing digital skills for future career opportunities and skills to safeguard against online risks for youths under Thailand’s criminal justice system. The youths will be able to learn digital skills and develop a positive attitude towards digital technology via an e-Learning platform and on-site workshops. In addition, dtac Net for Living, together with Thailand Professional Qualification Institute (TPQI), have launched “dtac Net for Living course” on an online platform. Youths who are trained in this course will obtain an educational equivalency certificate to continue their studies further and pursue career opportunities. Rehabilitation to Social Reintegration According to the DJOP, in fiscal year 2022, there were 12,202 cases involving Gen Z children and youths, with approximately 3,000 being rehabilitated in juvenile detention centers and training centers nationwide. Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharag, Director-General of the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection (DJOP), said, "The DJOP provides rehabilitation in both physical and psychological aspects, as well as offering education and upskilling sessions conducted by teachers and experts. These skills and education can be applied in real life when they return to society.”…

How one former prisoner is changing lives with her online bakery

We have all made mistakes. But some of us have made mistakes so serious and irreversible that they have deprived us of future opportunities. Chon Buri native Sansanee Tanakarnkowit made one such mistake when, 12 years ago, she got involved with drugs. At the tender age of 20, she started working at nightclubs. Due to the nature of her profession, she spent lots of time with friends and partied wildly every night. One night, a friend invited her to do “something fun”. She agreed and tried narcotics for the first time. Within four years, Ms. Sansanee became heavily addicted and began selling drugs to her friends. Eventually she was arrested and sentenced to two years in jail. Losing Freedom Twice As a person who thrived on city living and the company of friends, Ms. Sansanee became desperately lonely in prison. “Life behind bars was very difficult for me especially during the first few weeks. I had to adjust a lot. The prison was crowded. The bathroom was an open-plan with no privacy. I was stressed out and experiencing withdrawal symptoms. I even collapsed at one point,” she recalls. “But after a few months, I finally settled into a routine. I…

dtac Wins 4 HR Excellence Awards 2022 Thailand

26 October 2022 – dtac clinches four HR Excellence Awards 2022 Thailand, as organized by the Human Resources Online from Singapore. The four awards are in the categories of excellence in diversity, use of HR technology, business transformation, and employer branding: 1. Silver Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – dtac’s HR policy is committed to inclusivity, equity, and diversity. These are reflected in employee benefits including 6-month maternity leave with full pay and leave allowances for LGBTQ wishing to get married or undergo a gender reassignment procedure. 2. Silver Award for Excellence in the Use of HR Tech – dtac strives to unburden employees from some repetitive and time-consuming tasks by using automation technology to improve efficiency. For example, the initial employment application screening used to take three days but now takes a mere three seconds – image the time freed up for responsible staff. 3. Silver Award for Excellence in Business Transformation – dtac not only recommends customers to engage in digital transformation in the face of global and domestic market disruptions, but we have also transformed our human resources processes. So, when we say we strive to “Go Beyond Mobile Connectivity” we mean for everyone…

dtac Celebrates TISCO Foundation’s 40th Anniversary with #ThinkHaiD Zero eWaste

14 September 2022 – TISCO Foundation and dtac will jointly work together on reducing electronic waste by recycling under the #ThinkHaiD campaign with the aim to achieve zero waste. The partnership will also promote the Safe Internet campaign to increase digital immunity for marginalized children and youth, 4,040 children, under the support of the TISCO Foundation. Both activities will be held from November 2022 through January 2023 at the Cholpratan Anukroh School, Ayutthaya province. dtac aims to collect 420,000 pcs. by this year-endof electronic waste under the #ThinkHaiD campaign. Mr. Sadat Zaman, Chief Business Officer, Total Access Communication PLC or dtac, said, “dtac would like to congratulate the TISCO Foundation on their 40thanniversary. dtac, as long-standing telecommunications partner, is fully supportive of TISCO Group’s vision of sustainable development ensuring the community, society, and environment are cared for. TISCO Group’s policy is in line with dtac own’s 8 pillars of Responsible Business – two of which are Climate and Environment Management and Skills for an Accelerated Digital Future.” Mr. Sakchai Peechapat, Group Chief Executive of the TISCO Group, said, “TISCO is delighted to receive support from dtac on the 40th anniversary of our giving back to society. During the four decades…

Mobility data unveils 19 tourism clusters that can attract more tourists to second-tier provinces and reduce economic inequality

In the past four decades, Thailand has been struggling with the challenge of area-based inequalities. Before the Covid-19 crisis, the Thai economy was worth 16.9 trillion baht, but 70 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) came from just 15 provinces, which are those of the Bangkok Metropolitan Area, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chachoengsao, Phuket, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Khon Kaen, while the rest 62 provinces contributed only 30 percent to GDP. Area-Based Inequalities A deeper analysis of Thailand’s economic drivers reveals that the same 15 provinces have generated 88 per cent of tourism revenue, while the other 62 provinces, also known as second-tier provinces, have contributed just 12 percent of gross tourism revenue. Asst. Prof. Dr. Nattapong Punnoi, a lecturer at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Architecture, said, “Area-based inequalities have prevailed in Thai tourism for a long time. Most tourists choose to visit only major provinces, which led to resource degradation and significant income equality.” According to a report published by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the average length of stay for each domestic trip is 2.5 days, suggesting that Thais usually travel during weekends or…

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