Chonburi hotels struggle with labor shortages amidst influx of tourists

[webfact]

Picture: INN

 

Hotel bookings during the long weekend have been strong in Chonburi, but a major challenge for hotel operators is the shortage of employees.

 

Due to this issue, many hotels have had to close. High electricity bills, staff wages, and other expenses have also contributed to the struggles of the hotel sector.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused labor shortages as many employees returned to their hometowns or went to work abroad. This situation has created a significant shortage of workers in Chonburi Province, with more than 50 percent of hotel staff leaving, reported INN.

 

Ms. Yuwathida Jeeraphat, Managing Director of Hotel J Pattaya, has called on the government to address the issue of labor shortages by providing support to hotel operators.

 

Picture: INN

 

She has suggested that the Minister of Labor consider providing tax reductions and financial support to employees to encourage them to remain in the country and work in the tourism industry.

 

Ms. Yuwathida has also urged the government to ensure the safety of hotels and increase staffing at airports to facilitate the travel of tourists. She believes this would boost confidence among foreign tourists and increase Thailand's income.

 

Pattaya City is known for two markets: nightlife and family. While the number of family bookings has increased, some hotels have struggled to accommodate these visitors due to the shortage of employees.

 

Ms. Yuwathida hopes the government will work with all sectors to support the tourism industry and help it recover from the impact of the pandemic.

 

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[CrunchWrapSupreme]

Only until they ditch their two typical, very stupid requirements:

1) University degrees

2) Not older than 35

Would the doors be open to many Thais, particular poor Issan ladies, left to work only as roadside stall vendors or market hawkers.

[steven100]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Pattaya City is known for two markets: nightlife and family

a world class family resort ....  haha ....    bs

[KhunBENQ]

51 minutes ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

Would the doors be open to many Thais, particular poor Issan ladies,

The staff at the lower end of the income scale (room maids, cleaners, guards) at my favorite place in Pattaya are elderly folks mostly from Isaan.

But of course more is expected for reception and the like.

Edited May 3, 2023 by KhunBENQ

[jacko45k]

30 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

The staff at the lower end (room maids, cleaners, guards) at my favorite place in Pattaya are elderly folks mostly from Isaan.

But of course more is expected for reception and the like.

Those jobs where one can sit in air conditioning playing with your phone require far higher intellect and qualifications! (We have to be fair, in that many do have some English!)

Edited May 3, 2023 by jacko45k

[KhunBENQ]

Unfortunately the best and smartest receptionists at my place have vanished after COVID.

Edited May 3, 2023 by KhunBENQ

[ChipButty]

Its the same in Phuket, Maybe if you gave the Burmese proper rights and pay equal to Thai's 

[pattaya1234was]

32 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Those jobs where one can sit in air conditioning playing with your phone require far higher intellect and qualifications! (We have to be fair, in that many do have some English!)

Really? In the top hotels Receptionists are not permitted to sit down-they stand for all of their 10hr shift When you have 150 rooms occupied by Thais checking out at the last minute , noon, and another 150 waiting to check in at 2pm it is not much fun-I can assure you. I mention Thais because they use the limits whereas foreigners tend to drift away during the morning giving the cleaners time to clean.. Clean 150 rooms in 2 hours? You need an army of cleaners for that! And, by the way, they all speak and write excellent English.

[ChipButty]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Those jobs where one can sit in air conditioning playing with your phone require far higher intellect and qualifications! (We have to be fair, in that many do have some English!)

The girl I know who works in a 5 star hotel they have to handover their phones at the start of their shift, 

[Bangkok Barry]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

She has suggested that the Minister of Labor consider providing tax reductions and financial support to employees to encourage them to remain in the country and work in the tourism industry.

Did she also suggest that the hotels pay an attractive wage to encourage the workers to return, even though it might mean a rise in what in Thailand are low hotel rates?

[David Whitemore]

The owners of the hotels should pay more and not relying on the government

[marin]

6 minutes ago, David Whitemore said:

The owners of the hotels should pay more and not relying on the government

How do they rely on the government?

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, ChipButty said:

The girl I know who works in a 5 star hotel they have to handover their phones at the start of their shift, 

Are you surprised? Same in many countries for some staff.

[scorecard]

8 minutes ago, marin said:

How do they rely on the government?

The hotel lady is asking the gov't to provide support.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

Only until they ditch their two typical, very stupid requirements:

1) University degrees

2) Not older than 35

Would the doors be open to many Thais, particular poor Issan ladies, left to work only as roadside stall vendors or market hawkers.

Knock-knock... room service sir, you wanted a massage?

[sandyf]

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Did she also suggest that the hotels pay an attractive wage to encourage the workers to return, even though it might mean a rise in what in Thailand are low hotel rates?

The article is distorted, Pattay does not represent Chonburi.

I live on the outskirts of Chonburi and around here has seen massive expansion due to the pandemic with ex tourist sector employees returning to the area.

[Mywayboy]

7 hours ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

Only until they ditch their two typical, very stupid requirements:

1) University degrees

2) Not older than 35

Would the doors be open to many Thais, particular poor Issan ladies, left to work only as roadside stall vendors or market hawkers.

Why do they require University Degrees to work in hospitality. 

Nothing better than good old fashioned on-site hands on training. 

[pattaya1234was]

1 hour ago, Mywayboy said:

Why do they require University Degrees to work in hospitality. 

Nothing better than good old fashioned on-site hands on training. 

Not all front office staff in top hotels have University degrees-my partner has qualification from Aksorn  and that and an interview were sufficient to be accepted. He cannot be the only one!

[jacko45k]

7 hours ago, pattaya1234was said:

Really? In the top hotels Receptionists are not permitted to sit down-they stand for all of their 10hr shift When you have 150 rooms occupied by Thais checking out at the last minute , noon, and another 150 waiting to check in at 2pm it is not much fun-I can assure you. I mention Thais because they use the limits whereas foreigners tend to drift away during the morning giving the cleaners time to clean.. Clean 150 rooms in 2 hours? You need an army of cleaners for that! And, by the way, they all speak and write excellent English.

Yeah, it's terrible isn't it. I hear many of them are on the waiting list for jobs working the sewers as it's easier!

[jacko45k]

6 hours ago, ChipButty said:

The girl I know who works in a 5 star hotel they have to handover their phones at the start of their shift, 

Good idea.... as it creates a bad impression. But I have certainly seen hotel receptionists with their phones. 

[pattaya1234was]

4 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Yeah, it's terrible isn't it. I hear many of them are on the waiting list for jobs working the sewers as it's easier!

Comments such as yours are best binned

[geisha]

9 hours ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

Only until they ditch their two typical, very stupid requirements:

1) University degrees

2) Not older than 35

Would the doors be open to many Thais, particular poor Issan ladies, left to work only as roadside stall vendors or market hawkers.

Surely they are not asking for university degrees for cleaning staff and kitchen helps ? Most of my usual haunts have employed Burmese , excellent workers, some Cambodian but speak little Thai. All legal. One very good restaurant in Phuket has had 3 chefs in one month ! Left for no reason ! 
Then there’s the long hours., low pay, and huge problem, nowhere decent to live ! Every year I spend a few months in Thailand, buy my own fans as don’t like constant air cons, pots and pans ,towels. Clean pillows, hate ones that aren’t new. Then I give them to the waiters and waitresses when I leave. Ive seen plenty of awful lodgings, clean enough, but really basic shared between a few, one

as a waiter I know with his whole family on the floor! 

same problem in lots of countries beach resorts, no decent lodgings , low pay, long hours. No staff .
Have a look at some of the places for rent around Soi 5 Jomtien, or that Russian enclave further down after the temple . 10,000 Baht a month for a ….hole, and the 5000B ones forget it., The government lives in their own cosy homes with transport and good pay, they have no idea.

[digger70]

Labor shortage is most off the time  easily fixed, 

Pay the staff properly and treat them properly to keep them.

You do that and people will know and you never have that problem.

[spidermike007]

Make it easier for Burmese and Cambodians to get work visas, and make it free. You need labor? Get creative and show some humility. 

[orchis]

15 hours ago, webfact said:

This situation has created a significant shortage of workers in Chonburi Province, with more than 50 percent of hotel staff leaving

pay better salaries.

[tgw]

4 minutes ago, orchis said:

pay better salaries.

this is an area of the economy where the market works very well, salaries will adjust if needed.

[Adumbration]

Only the most desperate of Thais settle for having to work in Thailand.

[soi3eddie]

13 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Maybe if you gave the Burmese proper rights and pay equal to Thai's 

Heaven forbid, that citizens from a "neighbouring country" might display a willingness and ability to serve and speak English better than a native Thai. Tut Tut!

 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by soi3eddie

[DUNROAMIN]

On 5/3/2023 at 8:43 AM, jacko45k said:

Those jobs where one can sit in air conditioning playing with your phone require far higher intellect and qualifications! (We have to be fair, in that many do have some English!)

Lets not forget brown envelopes from families to secure a job for their Daughters and Sons.

[spongeworthy]

Before finding a place to live I stayed at a hotel in central Pattaya for a few weeks. I never noticed a shortage of staff at reception or elsewhere throughout the hotel, and things appeared to moving quickly and smoothly even at 100% occupancy. Maybe it's the 3 star and under hotels unable to find capable and trustworthy staff at minimum wage? Real shocker there.