Where are all the workers?

[ASEAN NOW News]

The government has announced overnight that foreigners can visit Thailand from November 1st, but is the tourist industry ready?

 

We keep reading about staff shortages at factories and across most sectors, so will Thailand still be able to offer a 5 star service?

 

According to the Youth Employment Service Centre of HCM City in Vietnam, many companies there in commercial services, delivery, hospitality, accounting, banking, and IT need a large number of workers now.

 

It surely must be the same in Thailand along with other SE Asian countries too.

 

Pattaya's large hotels (File photo)

 

Unless half of the Isan population are going to return to Bangkok or Pattaya overnight, and then have the time to be trained to manage guests at hotels or at tourist destinations quickly, there will be a massive shortfall of staff on November 1st.

 

The government is aware that service standards are likely to drop with low staffing, therefore surely they should make every effort to find workers and quickly.

 

Give work permits now

 

Although many immigrants from neighboring countries went home during Covid, there are still a large number of Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar expats still stuck in Thailand, most with inadequate funds to return home.

 

Many are skilled,  but cannot work as they are unable to obtain a work permit, which can also cost them a lot of money.

 

Surely the Thai Immigration should make use of this ready to work population, and grant them temporary work permits.

 

This will allow them to earn a fair wage and will enable employees at hotels, restaurants, and tourist destinations to fill vacant positions quickly.

[TooMuchTime]

There is a workers shortage because the govt forced them to not work.  Man made problem.

[mikebell]

There is a shortage  of workers for a number of reasons.  Covid has decimated the work force -' recorded 17,751 dead.' (not all of them old & only this Gov's word that this is the true figure!)

 

Thailand has been the hub of overmanning for decades; a walk round any Thaiwatsadu branch will reveal mobs of workers following customers about, or if the customer is a farang, hiding in the shadows ready to chant 'No have' if discovered.

This has produced generations of a work-shy labour force.  Job vacancies advertised, went unfilled as most (male) Thais prefer to watch rice grow than stand up.

 

The average Thai would not last a week in Europe but perish from exhaustion.

[tingtong]

Until the government can't commit to a decision, and keep "mulling", no workers will be in rash to come back to cities to find they spent money to travel back and rent a place, only to be lied again and their supposed employee can't open/forced to close shop.

This is actually playing out many places globally too. People tired of the uncertainty. Tired that any moment a "new wave" can force close their jobs. 

And some just happy to sit with a little subsidy and the potential handout food. 

 

Meanwhile they can enjoy subsided vacation and flights with food vouchers, if they have any money left to pay the other half.

 

 

 

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

The average Thai would not last a week in Europe but perish from exhaustion.

I have seen some of them working in Isarn and it would kill me. 

[The Cipher]

Quote

Covid has decimated the work force -' recorded 17,751 dead.'

Oh no, not the loss of 0.03% of the adult population of Thailand! Such decimation. How will the work force ever recover???

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, The Cipher said:

Oh no, not the loss of 0.03% of the adult population of Thailand! Such decimation. How will the work force ever recover???

Yes, death is such a trivial thing we can all make light of it!

[johng]

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Yes, death is such a trivial thing we can all make light of it!

Death comes to us all eventually !   many believe that after death there is indeed light ????

[Elkski]

Bunch of BS in OP.  However you don't just go from almost nill to full open the same tourist country as before just because the PM says it's open again.  

Maybe higher wages will be needed.  It will require

Training sessions, uniforms, etc. 

Shop and restaurant owners keep hearing govt wants to attract less but more wealthy.  Who knows what they will spend money on or eat or walk.     

 

 

[Pib]

Don't worry...even with a 1 Nov opening where no quarantine would be required if fully vaccinated if Thailand keeps the other COE requirements like 100K USD COVID insurance and the other bureaucratic obstacles/docs to get a COE then there will be few tourists...nothing close to what the govt estimates.   Until Thailand makes entry into Thailand easy and not costly again few tourists will come.

[PoorSucker]

This is stupid.

Just becase they open does not mean the tourists will turn up on Nov 1st by magic.

[Adelphi]

"We keep reading about staff shortages at factories and across most sectors, so will Thailand still be able to offer a 5 star service?"

 

I don't remember a 5 star service first time around. ????????

[Scott]

The labor shortage is complex.  I've spent much of the pandemic in the US and recently traveled through the northern part of Western US, visiting some of the national parks and then family.  Although it's not equivalent some of the same things apply to Thailand.   I stopped in a very small almost exclusively tourist town, Silver Gate, Montana, to have breakfast before going over the Bear Tooth pass.  I spoke with a local couple, as service was extremely slow even though the restaurant had very few customers.  

 

Only two people were working, doing all the cooking, taking orders and cleaning.  It seems that usual influx of about 3,000 foreign workers was not permitted.  That left the bottom end jobs largely unfilled.  Those guest-workers usually also take on part-time work in places like restaurants and gas stations in their spare time.   They stock grocery  shelves as well.   The owner said that in total they had 3 people working.  Two were at the restaurant and the other had to travel around 4 hours to get supplies for the restaurants -- no trucks will make the journey with many places closed.  

I suspect that the rather fluid border conditions that have always given Thailand an abundant supply of labor may be contributing to the labor shortage.  I suspect a lot of workers may have returned home and coming back is less convenient. 

 

Some families in both countries have been impacted by death.  Elderly grandparents who served as babysitters/caretakers for children of working age people have died or become seriously ill.  A Thai friend's sister, a professional, has returned to her home village to care for the sickly surviving parent. 

 

A third factor, and this I've seen in both the US and Thailand, is the need to quarantine after exposure.  More than a few places have been extremely short of workers after an exposure and a requirement to quarantine.  Taking employees off the roles because they are sick and quarantined is a big strain on a business.  

I don't know if the key is laziness is the main factor.  I think it's changing circumstances, changing family situations, kids not in school, etc.  

[Neeranam]

13 hours ago, ASEAN NOW News said:

Surely the Thai Immigration should make use of this ready to work population, and grant them temporary work permits.

Work Permits are not granted by Immigration, but The Dept. of Labour.

[Neeranam]

6 minutes ago, Scott said:

I don't know if the key is laziness is the main factor.  I think it's changing circumstances, changing family situations, kids not in school, etc. 

I feel that it is a factor with Thai teachers. There is no logical explanation why kids have been off so much in the last 2 years. 

[Scott]

24 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

I feel that it is a factor with Thai teachers. There is no logical explanation why kids have been off so much in the last 2 years. 

Well, the Thai and foreign teacher's I am associated with have had to work extremely hard.  For a time, they had to do in-person teaching to 1/2 the classes and on-line classes for the other half.  Then, they had to do on-line teaching for all.  They had to produce video classes for some who had trouble accessing the on-line classes.

 

The teachers also had to deal with parents who were watching and some were very critical and unhelpful.  The admin got lots of calls complaining about everything.   This was especially true with younger kids. 

 

The stress levels for teachers was very high.  They had zero control over what the school would do about in-person teaching vs. on-line.  They had to assess students and give tests at the drop of a hat without knowing if the tests/assessments would be on-line or in-person.  

 

[BKKTRAVELER]

14 hours ago, ASEAN NOW News said:

so will Thailand still be able to offer a 5 star service?

Thailand never really offered a 5 star service to begin with. I have been staying in many 5 star hotels, like many of you and never truly felt like it was a unique experience. People, or at least most of them, tried to make up for the service and I appreciate that. But, when showers or aircons malfunction, bugs infest your room, paint comes off the wall etc.. It is not 5 stars in my opinion. I have been to a few places where I way overpaid and it still wasn't there. 

 

Thailand in my opinion is not about 5 stars, but about giving you a friendly and fun experience in a tropical setting, with friendly people at a fraction of the cost of say, Maldives, Seychelles, Ibiza and such. I had my best experiences here in lower end places and I'll never forget them.

[Neeranam]

26 minutes ago, Scott said:

Well, the Thai and foreign teacher's I am associated with have had to work extremely hard.  For a time, they had to do in-person teaching to 1/2 the classes and on-line classes for the other half.  Then, they had to do on-line teaching for all.  They had to produce video classes for some who had trouble accessing the on-line classes.

 

The teachers also had to deal with parents who were watching and some were very critical and unhelpful.  The admin got lots of calls complaining about everything.   This was especially true with younger kids. 

 

The stress levels for teachers was very high.  They had zero control over what the school would do about in-person teaching vs. on-line.  They had to assess students and give tests at the drop of a hat without knowing if the tests/assessments would be on-line or in-person.  

 

Good points there; I've been out of the Thai education systems since before Covid, so not really in the know. I'm sure foreign teachers have worked hard, not an easy job. It is stressful for all, parents included, having kids at home and working remotely themselves. 

We should support each other, but in my experience with Thai teachers, this is usually just a one-way street. I'm thinking of taking my youngest out the system and doing the GED next year. 

 

Let's hope it gets back to normal soon. 

 

 

[gk10012001]

Often, when one door closes, another one opens.  People lose a job or an industry dies out, people somehow find other ways to make a living or get by with life.

 

  I remember years ago when low season in Pattaya really was low.  Town was quiet.  You could walk across second road easily with very little traffic.  It was quite different than during high season and was nice atually.  Most places were still open, prices were lower, etc.   Then as High season ramped up, you literally would see pickup trucks turning onto the sois packed with girls sitting in the pickup bed ready to start working.  It was known seasonal work.

 

  After the latest protracted shut down, one can only guess what will happen and how fast.

[gk10012001]

8 minutes ago, BKKTRAVELER said:

Thailand never really offered a 5 star service to begin with. I have been staying in many 5 star hotels, like many of you and never truly felt like it was a unique experience. People, or at least most of them, tried to make up for the service and I appreciate that. But, when showers or aircons malfunction, bugs infest your room, paint comes off the wall etc.. It is not 5 stars in my opinion. I have been to a few places where I way overpaid and it still wasn't there. 

 

Thailand in my opinion is not about 5 stars, but about giving you a friendly and fun experience in a tropical setting, with friendly people at a fraction of the cost of say, Maldives, Seychelles, Ibiza and such. I had my best experiences here in lower end places and I'll never forget them.

oh yes.  I agree 100 %.  I don't need nor desire 5 star.  I was very content with some monthly rentals that had a great price. For two week stays, places sucy as Flipper Lodge or Flipper Hotel or similar hotels were great getaways and breaks from a cold North American winter.  Foot massages, friendly ladies, good food from all over the world with variety.  Fun night life.  Some beautiful natrual scenery and parks.  Get to Phuket or even Ko Samed and clean water for swimming in the ocean.  Some nights out with the guys playing pool.  Disco dancing was OK. Some local Thai dance and music shows such as that bar at the beginning of the entrance to walking street on the right that did Issaan stuff.  BTS travel around Bangkok a great way, or was a great way to get a birds eye view.  Remember being able to actually sit down!   And what got me there in the first place was the ease of travel.  No advance visa for entry needed.  Just fly to the airport on flights from the USA that were not very expensive, get stamped in for 29 days and off you go.  Plenty of English to get around.  Bus service was fine with me, both local and for trips to other provinces.  Pattaya good gosh, the baht bus system.  What a great way to get around.  Hop on, hop off.  less than a buck!  motobike taxi for longer rides such as ad hoc trip up to Big buddha hill.

 

  A holiday paradis as far as I was and am concerned even with some of the nuttiness and beauracracy that crops up.  Those things are not rare anywhere so no big deal.  For a foreign country I felt quite comfortable with how Thailand welcomed me.  Been away for two years and luckily have been working in my field and doshing up and made it to full retirement eligibility and medicare.  Will be heading to Thailand soon, once things settle out a bit more

 

 

[Saraburi121]

Workers are abundant in Thailand, good managers are always hard to find.  Its going to be a slow roll with incoming tourists so it will give time for the workers to gain the experience and skill sets needed plus time for managers to refine/reawaken their skills.  A place is only as good as its manager. With the flip-flop of entry rules in Thailand its not going to be a mass invasion of tourists. 

[Albert Zweistein]

And is half of the Isan population double vaxxed ? Besides I remember pre Covid many restaurants in Patong were using full Birmese staff.

[Saraburi121]

24 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

oh yes.  I agree 100 %.  I don't need nor desire 5 star.  I was very content with some monthly rentals that had a great price. For two week stays, places sucy as Flipper Lodge or Flipper Hotel or similar hotels were great getaways and breaks from a cold North American winter.  Foot massages, friendly ladies, good food from all over the world with variety.  Fun night life.  Some beautiful natrual scenery and parks.  Get to Phuket or even Ko Samed and clean water for swimming in the ocean.  Some nights out with the guys playing pool.  Disco dancing was OK. Some local Thai dance and music shows such as that bar at the beginning of the entrance to walking street on the right that did Issaan stuff.  BTS travel around Bangkok a great way, or was a great way to get a birds eye view.  Remember being able to actually sit down!   And what got me there in the first place was the ease of travel.  No advance visa for entry needed.  Just fly to the airport on flights from the USA that were not very expensive, get stamped in for 29 days and off you go.  Plenty of English to get around.  Bus service was fine with me, both local and for trips to other provinces.  Pattaya good gosh, the baht bus system.  What a great way to get around.  Hop on, hop off.  less than a buck!  motobike taxi for longer rides such as ad hoc trip up to Big buddha hill.

 

  A holiday paradis as far as I was and am concerned even with some of the nuttiness and beauracracy that crops up.  Those things are not rare anywhere so no big deal.  For a foreign country I felt quite comfortable with how Thailand welcomed me.  Been away for two years and luckily have been working in my field and doshing up and made it to full retirement eligibility and medicare.  Will be heading to Thailand soon, once things settle out a bit more

 

 

Nice post and couldn't be said any better. 

[Meat Pie 47]

12 minutes ago, Albert Zweistein said:

And is half of the Isan population double vaxxed ? Besides I remember pre Covid many restaurants in Patong were using full Birmese staff.

What is Birmese?

[BKKTRAVELER]

1 hour ago, gk10012001 said:

oh yes.  I agree 100 %.  I don't need nor desire 5 star.  I was very content with some monthly rentals that had a great price. For two week stays, places sucy as Flipper Lodge or Flipper Hotel or similar hotels were great getaways and breaks from a cold North American winter.  Foot massages, friendly ladies, good food from all over the world with variety.  Fun night life.  Some beautiful natrual scenery and parks.  Get to Phuket or even Ko Samed and clean water for swimming in the ocean.  Some nights out with the guys playing pool.  Disco dancing was OK. Some local Thai dance and music shows such as that bar at the beginning of the entrance to walking street on the right that did Issaan stuff.  BTS travel around Bangkok a great way, or was a great way to get a birds eye view.  Remember being able to actually sit down!   And what got me there in the first place was the ease of travel.  No advance visa for entry needed.  Just fly to the airport on flights from the USA that were not very expensive, get stamped in for 29 days and off you go.  Plenty of English to get around.  Bus service was fine with me, both local and for trips to other provinces.  Pattaya good gosh, the baht bus system.  What a great way to get around.  Hop on, hop off.  less than a buck!  motobike taxi for longer rides such as ad hoc trip up to Big buddha hill.

 

  A holiday paradis as far as I was and am concerned even with some of the nuttiness and beauracracy that crops up.  Those things are not rare anywhere so no big deal.  For a foreign country I felt quite comfortable with how Thailand welcomed me.  Been away for two years and luckily have been working in my field and doshing up and made it to full retirement eligibility and medicare.  Will be heading to Thailand soon, once things settle out a bit more

 

 

Yes, Thailand was indeed wonderful for whoever wanted it to be. It still can be, but times have really changed. Hope you can find your paradise again!

[The Hammer2021]

The workers will appear when the work is here

[RichardColeman]

16 hours ago, mikebell said:

Covid has decimated the work force -' recorded 17,751 dead.' (not all of them old & only this Gov's word that this is the true figure!)

Think the deaths are far greater than that of the 'workforce' if the economist is right - they recon 40,000 deaths extra from November last year. This figure does not include the massive deaths from covid from September this year, which should push the number way over 50,000 when also adding in October.

 

If those are missing covid deaths, then Thailand jumps into the top 20 deaths from covid from 40th, 

 

 

 

[Orinoco]

20 hours ago, mikebell said:

Thailand has been the hub of overmanning for decades; a walk round any Thaiwatsadu branch will reveal mobs of workers following customers about, or if the customer is a farang, hiding in the shadows ready to chant 'No have' if discovered.

So true.

Walked out of Mega home yesterday, totally annoying staff,

Went to Global home up the road, much better behaved staff.

TIT.

 

 

[Rampant Rabbit]

20 hours ago, mikebell said:

The average Thai would not last a week in Europe but perish from exhaustion.

Nailed  it

[Rampant Rabbit]

19 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I have seen some of them working in Isarn and it would kill me. 

No ,  you  get used to it  like any  job,  maybe the first week  or  so  then it  becomes  normal, done  it  for almost 10  years on the land.