130,000 Workers Risk Losing Jobs At Flood-Hit Companies: Thai Labour Ministry

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130,000 workers risk losing jobs at flood-hit companies: Labour Ministry

BANGKOK, Dec 7 - Thailand's severe flooding could put some 130,000 mainly outsourced workers at risk of being laid off as more than 13,000 companies cannot resume operations, according to the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare.

Director-General Arthit Isamo of the Labour ministry’s Department of Labour Protection and Welfare said some 28,000 business operators and factories in 31 provinces have been hit by flood, affecting nearly ten million workers.

He said flood situation has now eased in a number of provinces and 351,640 employees have already returned to work as normal after 15,474 companies reopened their businesses.

Mr Arthit however said 642,304 employees cannot return to work as 13,205 businesses remain closed.

He voiced concern that of that number some 130,000 mainly outsourced workers could be laid off as flood-hit companies in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani provinces could not resume operation.

Mr Arthit said the labour ministry is preparing measures to respond to their possible unemployment by organising a so-called labour fair in industrial estates, starting at Rojana Industrial Park and Bang Pa-In Industrial estate from Dec 16.

He added that labour ministry officials have discussed delaying layoffs with flood-hit employers, noting that at the same time, the government will provide monthly allowances of Bt2,000 for each worker so that the companies will be able to pay 75 per cent of the salaries to their employees.

The financial support is granted on the condition that the companies must have employed their workers for at least three months, according to the director-general.

The labour official stated that the plan is aimed to slow down the possible layoffs of some 300,000 workers and as of now 200,000 workers have applied for the scheme.

Mr Arthit however urged the workers to report to their local labour protection and welfare offices so that officials could offer them appropriate assistance. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-12-07

[jayceenik]

A week ago I talked to a 41-yo new BG (her 5th day in Pat!) at a Made-in-Thailand beerbar complex.

She claimed to have been laid off from her job as a seamstress from the small clothing factory in BKK where she worked.

First she went home to Udon and then, short of money, came down to Pattaya at the instance of a friend already in the game (same bar).

She is quite nice, more looking late 20s than 41!

She has two kids, one 20+yo girl at the UT Uni and one 15-yo girl still at school.

[givenall]

It is so funny when these officials and government agenciesthrough numbers around. Last week was 100,000 this week is 130,000 and my guesswould be also as good as Theirs

[Thongkorn]

A week ago I talked to a 41-yo new BG (her 5th day in Pat!) at a Made-in-Thailand beerbar complex.

She claimed to have been laid off from her job as a seamstress from the small clothing factory in BKK where she worked.

First she went home to Udon and then, short of money, came down to Pattaya at the instance of a friend already in the game (same bar).

She is quite nice, more looking late 20s than 41!

She has two kids, one 20+yo girl at the UT Uni and one 15-yo girl still at school.

so sad when the only option you have to feed your children is to sell your body.

[GentlemanJim]

A week ago I talked to a 41-yo new BG (her 5th day in Pat!) at a Made-in-Thailand beerbar complex.

She claimed to have been laid off from her job as a seamstress from the small clothing factory in BKK where she worked.

First she went home to Udon and then, short of money, came down to Pattaya at the instance of a friend already in the game (same bar).

She is quite nice, more looking late 20s than 41!

She has two kids, one 20+yo girl at the UT Uni and one 15-yo girl still at school.

so sad when the only option you have to feed your children is to sell your body.

Well perhaps that's a mark of just how dedicated a mother she is. Many women with kids that age would be tempted to leave them to fend for themselves or rely on relatives. Good luck to her. Hope you gave a good tip jayceenik!

I wonder if the government now see this situation as the perfect opportunity to rush through the minimum wage promise

[IsaanUSA]

What is their definition of a company? 13,000 companies seems like quite a number!