Firms urged to prevent brain drain after 2015

By The Nation

Published on May 31, 2011

Employees should be offered better welfare and more incentives to prevent a possible brain drain when the Asean grouping of countries gets integrated in 2015, the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare warned yesterday.

Better migration and employment conditions offered under the 2015 Asean Community will encourage citizens to seek jobs that pay higher salaries and offer better welfare in the region, DLPW director-general Amphorn Nitisiri told a four-day Bangkok seminar, which wrapped up yesterday.

The immediate measure could be decreasing working hours and employing inexpensive incentives, such as training that could boost the potential of their workers. Senior citizens or retirees in certain professions could be re-employed, along with disabled people with exceptional skills, in order to solve the shortage of labour, she added.

According to a national-standard analysis, Thailand will face drastic changes such as state authorities becoming weak and the public's actions becoming stronger and the current economic structure not being able to accommodate long-term growth because labour getting expensive due to wage policies employed by political parties to win votes. The other scenarios are a lower growth rate; a larger elderly population; a decrease in social courtesy and helpfulness; a drop in natural resources; a higher rate of crime; and the migration of workforce.

The seminar was aimed at encouraging businesses to take part in a scheme to end child labour, cut down overtime hours and fully comply with the minimum wage policy. So far, 108 companies have joined this scheme.

The department has also granted certificates to 1,565 large businesses taking part in corporate social responsibility schemes.

-- The Nation 2011-05-31

Will that mean a 6 and a half day week schedule? Will the salary go up all the way to 250THB per day?

I wonder if the de facto in-place policy of many companies to have new employees work for free for a month during their trial period will be outlawed. TIT

What does that mean ?

The seminar was aimed at encouraging businesses to take part in a scheme to end child labour, cut down overtime hours and fully comply with the minimum wage policy.

Thailand will face drastic changes such as state authorities becoming weak and the public's actions becoming stronger

Do you understand the same : "Obey the law because the government won't be able to protect you anymore" ? This seminar was organized by the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, aren't these people supposed to be on employees' side ?

On the bright side, Thailands civil servants are slowly realizing that Thailand is not an island. Self-sufficiency may work in a closed world but in an open society, first the Asean, then the world, it's an illusion. Some old school civil servants have succeeded until now to insulate Thailand from the reality of the outside world but the writing in on the wall, it's time to move on in the 21st century.

So where will all the foreign intelligenstia relocate to?

Let's face it; as long as intra-ASEAN labour is not possible we shall deal with an absolute dried-up employee market. I would have opened more restaurants but I cannot cope with the staff situation as it is. THB 12'000 gross/month for a waitress is not attractive - apparently. Qualification is basic English; the rest is tought. Kitchen helpers without qualifications would get upto THB 10'000 - no takers.

Could I hire ASEAN-personnel (Burmese or Philippinas) legally then my problem would be solved; I have them walking in almost everyday asking for jobs. Good English, former experience and less than above salaries. Oh well..........

And, yes, I forgot - 2015 is bloody far away!

Will that mean a 6 and a half day week schedule? Will the salary go up all the way to 250THB per day?

I wonder if the de facto in-place policy of many companies to have new employees work for free for a month during their trial period will be outlawed. TIT

I wonder how common an occurance it is?

I just asked a Thai friend who seemed suprised and said she's never heard of it.

Anyway, your right, no matter how much it happens it is a disgusting practice that needs outlawing :bah:

So where will all the foreign intelligenstia relocate to?

To ThaiVisa forum posting more than 6,000 "worthwhile" notes...

On the bright side, Thailands civil servants are slowly realizing that Thailand is not an island.

Once Thai news shows regularly start showing more than a few minutes international news then I may start believing Thai's want to know what's going on outside of Thailand. Now, getting involved outside of Thailand that is still decades away.

I just hate that one TV commercial which shows 3 Thai kids in their little house in Thailand with a blue sea/blue sky all around the borders of Thailand implying its a peaceful island...but then the bombs start getting tossed in like it's outsiders/other countries causing the current bombing and disorder in Thailand. Yes, one day Thai's may figure out that even islands have to integrate themselves into the rest of the world...but Thai's pulling their heads out of the sand won't be easy.

I read the title and my first thought was they were going to ban spinal taps.

They should have planned for this before discussions of the 2015 trade agreement and guided it through the public with explanations about the future impact. I imagine that lots of people are going to be very, very surprised when they understand what joining ASEAN actually means.

TheWalkingMan

brain drain in thailand, isn't that an oximoron ?

where would al those diploma paid or just earned for attendance go work in the real world without the proper connexions ???