Migrant workers fill gap in Thailand’s tourism and service sectors due to labour shortage

[webfact]

PHOTO: Unsplash

 

by Mitch Connor 

Migrant workers are increasingly filling roles in Thailand‘s tourism and service sectors, due to a chronic manpower shortage, according to Tanit Sorat, deputy chairman of the Employers’ Confederation of Thailand (ECOT). The labour shortage is the result of new Thai graduates choosing freelance jobs and the country’s ageing population.

 

Sorat explained that with many graduates preferring a slower lifestyle over full-time positions, employers have to rely on workers from neighbouring countries. It is estimated that Thailand is facing a shortage of around 500,000 skilled and unskilled workers, particularly in the tourism and service sectors.

The number of new graduates has also been declining as Thailand moves towards being an ageing society. Additionally, workers who quit their jobs during the pandemic and returned to their hometowns have not returned to the labour market.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/migrant-workers-fill-gap-in-thailands-tourism-and-service-sectors-due-to-labor-shortage

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-04-20

 

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[Burma Bill]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

employers have to rely on workers from neighbouring countries.

For reference:-

 

According to CENTRAL, there are more than 2 million Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand, of which about half are undocumented, and therefore illegal. The organisation said those without legal documents face many challenges, such as labour exploitation and persecution by Thai authorities.Feb 28, 2023

Full article:

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/migrant-workers-thailand-struggle-economy-slowing#:~:text=According to CENTRAL%2C there are,and persecution by Thai authorities.

[Tropicalevo]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The labour shortage is the result of new Thai graduates choosing freelance jobs and the country’s ageing population.

They forgot to mention the continual increases in the minimum wage.

[loong]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Migrant workers are increasingly filling roles in Thailand‘s tourism and service sectors

I didn't think that foreigners were allowed to do these jobs.

[pixelaoffy]

5 hours ago, loong said:

I didn't think that foreigners were allowed to do these jobs.

yeah jobs like working in restaurants for 12 hour days and getting 8000 baht a month... Thais are so angry laotians and Cambodians are taking them .????

Edited April 20, 2023 by pixelaoffy

[RichardColeman]

The Age pyramids of thailand look very very worrying. Knock off the under 25s (many of whom will still be in education or unemployed or low wage), , knock off the 60 pluses and all those who are actually unemployed or unable to work, and Thailand is looking at about 1.5 workers to support 1 non-worker in the not too distant future. Thailand will be so reliant on migrants to help support Thais then if these migrants suddenly find richer pickings Thailand is in big trouble

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

Migrant workers are increasingly filling roles in Thailand‘s tourism and service sectors, due to a chronic manpower shortage

There is no labour shortage in Thailand. 

They are either bone idle or don't wish to do the hard work.

[jacko45k]

13 hours ago, loong said:

I didn't think that foreigners were allowed to do these jobs.

Service sectors, I expect they can fill many categories and roles in "Thailand‘s tourism and service sectors"... specifically tour guides is often mentioned as restricted and seems to get the locals irritated. Hardly see Thai service staff when I eat out now....

[mikebell]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

There is no labour shortage in Thailand. 

They are either bone idle or don't wish to do the hard work.

Totally agree.  Thailand smugly boasts 90+% employment!  I ask how many of them work?  Look at the numbers of over-manned shop assistants who either hide from customers or follow them about in herds.  Most Thais would not last a week in the West.

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

For reference:-

 

According to CENTRAL, there are more than 2 million Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand, of which about half are undocumented, and therefore illegal. The organisation said those without legal documents face many challenges, such as labour exploitation and persecution by Thai authorities.Feb 28, 2023

Full article:

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/migrant-workers-thailand-struggle-economy-slowing#:~:text=According to CENTRAL%2C there are,and persecution by Thai authorities.

It's the blind eye again...

How many company or business people have you ever heard of being arrested or even jailed for hiring illegals?

NONE

[KhunLA]

Not sure I'd call it a 'worker shortage', more like a decent pay shortage.

 

Will say the 'immigrants' seem to earn their pay a bit more than some locals.   Wife now uses 2 from Myanmar to tinker around in the garden with her, when needed, @ ฿350 a day, each.

[bkk6060]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Sorat explained that with many graduates preferring a slower lifestyle over full-time positions,

This seems to be a worldwide issue now.  They do not want to work fulltime or want to work from home.    Here, the only decent paying job with benefits and a retirement seems to be government work.  Otherwise, low paying tourism jobs or lousy sales positions.

This place needs migrant workers to survive.