30,000 Thai workers for Qatar?
By Dr Arno Maierbrugger
investvine.com

As reported by Gulf Times on October 17, an agreement is set to be signed this month between Thailand’s labour ministry and officials from Qatar to send no less than 30,000 Thai workers to Qatar to fill labour shortages in Qatar’s busy infrastructure, transport and construction sector. The people are supposed to work in various fields such as architecture and engineering, and the labour brigade would also include technical experts and crew for the country’s flagship airline Qatar Airways.

The move, which has been initiated by Thailand’s labour authorities, is interesting and certainly holds opportunities for some of the workers, but has been perceived with surprise here in Thailand. The plan indicates that Qatar requests skilled or at least semi-skilled workers for its large projects rather than just unskilled helpers, and the question is where to find these people in Thailand.

The Southeast Asian nation has one of the lowest (official) unemployment rates in the world at 0.7% as per the second quarter of 2013. According to latest figures issued by Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Board, all sectors but manufacturing saw a strong acceleration in employment in the period, with construction absorbing 144,077 jobseekers alone, but demand is still there for these, let alone skilled engineers in the country’s ever-booming building and property sectors. Thailand is not a country dependent on labour export such as the Philippines and risks serious shortages if doing so.

Read More: http://www.gulf-times.com/business/191/details/369122/30,000-thai-workers-for-qatar%3F

--GULF TIMES 2013-10-20

This makes no sense at all as there already is a labor shortage in Thailand and more than likely a huge shortage in the skilled positions

Slavework there. The thai workers have to substitute the dead nepalese and indian slaves engaged for the buildings of the football WM.

I think the government vowed to fight human trafficking, but at the same time they promote modern slavery.

"Qutar requests skilled or at least semi-skilled workers"

I guess that means, no chance of getting rid of the PT-government??

Send the same workers that finished the excellent Bangkok futsal stadium.

Where are the 30,000 people coming from when Thailand says near everyone is employment and a shortage of local workers ?????/ or as I have stated before unemployment figures like other stats are near untrue or not possible to obtain, therefore guessed ??

This makes no sense at all as there already is a labor shortage in Thailand and more than likely a huge shortage in the skilled positions

Yes, but the Thai's don't want to do the work here, which is why there are so many migrant workers here. Thai's are too good for those jobs now. They expect more.

One point that needs to be made is that the Thai (or any) workers over there still get better money than in the home country, especially skilled or semi-skilled positions.

Also, as the (official) unemployment rates are extremely low in Thailand, it shows that setting up a welfare state, such as that in many farang countries, DOES have a negative effect on the human condition - allowing people to decide not to be bothered, and just live off the backs of others.

Here people simply have to do something...good or bad overall, it does have that one positive effect.

One point that needs to be made is that the Thai (or any) workers over there still get better money than in the home country, especially skilled or semi-skilled positions.

Also, as the (official) unemployment rates are extremely low in Thailand, it shows that setting up a welfare state, such as that in many farang countries, DOES have a negative effect on the human condition - allowing people to decide not to be bothered, and just live off the backs of others.

Here people simply have to do something...good or bad overall, it does have that one positive effect.

I simply do question the (official ) figures, BULL###$, being here nigh on 32 years they are Kidding or they have no hope of finding out, they can either guess OR collect info from other forms of information---ex., if a lazy so and so sweeps up for a shop for 2 days and gets cash for food. is he employed ??? if he is helping hi mother on a far distant farm will stats show it ??? many examples like this and living in 10 provinces mainly rural areas, there to my thinking 5 million at least UNEMPLOYED. (parents doing little or nothing waiting for money sent from the BAR girl or boy--they are classed as employed by their children Ha HA. nicely hidden unemployed to my mind.

Where are the 30,000 people coming from when Thailand says near everyone is employment and a shortage of local workers ?????/ or as I have stated before unemployment figures like other stats are near untrue or not possible to obtain, therefore guessed ??

Maybe there is a shortage because thousands of semi skilled labour went overseas because the wages were so pitiful in Thailand?

One point that needs to be made is that the Thai (or any) workers over there still get better money than in the home country, especially skilled or semi-skilled positions.

Also, as the (official) unemployment rates are extremely low in Thailand, it shows that setting up a welfare state, such as that in many farang countries, DOES have a negative effect on the human condition - allowing people to decide not to be bothered, and just live off the backs of others.

Here people simply have to do something...good or bad overall, it does have that one positive effect.

Are you seriously comparing the Thai welfare state with that in Europe? The reason people can appear to do nothing, is that to survive on virtually nothing in Thailand can be done.

No one freezes to death and no one starves. It is feasible to live on small donations from family members.

Promises of wonderful, well paid jobs abroad for workers who are used to earning a pittance. Just bring your passport.

Sound familiar.....?

Not necessarily a bad thing, there are people all over the world who will travel away from their families and suffer discomfort in foreign lands for money, I'm sure nany people have done the same here. Dangerous? Sometimes perhaps but you look out fir yourselves and your mates best you can. I know plenty of Thai men who have earned good money in India and the middle east, better than they can get here. Contrary to popular belief Thai men have a good reputation in the construction industry for doing a good days work, many Indians, not so much, and this isn't a racist comment, it's based on experience.

Good luck to them, hope the agencies dont rip them off too much.

One point that needs to be made is that the Thai (or any) workers over there still get better money than in the home country, especially skilled or semi-skilled positions.

Also, as the (official) unemployment rates are extremely low in Thailand, it shows that setting up a welfare state, such as that in many farang countries, DOES have a negative effect on the human condition - allowing people to decide not to be bothered, and just live off the backs of others.

Here people simply have to do something...good or bad overall, it does have that one positive effect.

Not in Qatar.

Not necessarily a bad thing, there are people all over the world who will travel away from their families and suffer discomfort in foreign lands for money, I'm sure nany people have done the same here. Dangerous? Sometimes perhaps but you look out fir yourselves and your mates best you can. I know plenty of Thai men who have earned good money in India and the middle east, better than they can get here. Contrary to popular belief Thai men have a good reputation in the construction industry for doing a good days work, many Indians, not so much, and this isn't a racist comment, it's based on experience.

Good luck to them, hope the agencies dont rip them off too much.

If any Thai can go abroad for more money good for them, as then they can in future enrich their lives.

But so many go to get extra money for SOME lazy parents, and the kids will NEVER see that given money. One other point I mentioned earlier how can you get 30,000 to go as their are no persons available-as Thai have near no unemployed---suddenly beam up some Thais-or a population explosion and all will be born 21 years old to then send to Middle East. ?????

Lack of information leads some posters to post their meaning about Thailand.

But hey forget the facts concerning Qatar.

International work unions, Human rights groups, international investigating press

appeals to the FIFA to intervene in the actual situation (modern slavery to construct the stadiums for the Football WM 22,)

They demand to cancel the WM or to exercice full pressure to abolish this modern slavery.

Not necessarily a bad thing, there are people all over the world who will travel away from their families and suffer discomfort in foreign lands for money, I'm sure nany people have done the same here. Dangerous? Sometimes perhaps but you look out fir yourselves and your mates best you can. I know plenty of Thai men who have earned good money in India and the middle east, better than they can get here. Contrary to popular belief Thai men have a good reputation in the construction industry for doing a good days work, many Indians, not so much, and this isn't a racist comment, it's based on experience.

Good luck to them, hope the agencies dont rip them off too much.

If any Thai can go abroad for more money good for them, as then they can in future enrich their lives.

But so many go to get extra money for SOME lazy parents, and the kids will NEVER see that given money. One other point I mentioned earlier how can you get 30,000 to go as their are no persons available-as Thai have near no unemployed---suddenly beam up some Thais-or a population explosion and all will be born 21 years old to then send to Middle East. ?????

Possibly because the number is bunkum? Employed and under employed and unemployed are not obvious concepts in Thailand. If you consider selling water heaters in homepro employment, tripling your monthly salary in Qatar might be a plan. Stiebel probably has 1k reps nationwide.

Thailand is full of non jobs where a body occupies a place, but contributes little or nothing. Bit like yingluck sometimes.

The salari there is 800 dollar a mounth for immigrants.

They only can stay 6 mounths than they have to leave.

East european's don't wont to work there anymore because in Europe you can make easy 3 times double.

They better takes some birmees labor experince and they real work

Last week the ruling party stated they wanted to bring 50,000 workers from Bangladesh to make up the shortfall in labor in Thailand, now they want to send 30,000 Thais to Qatar.........go figure.

Right. The Thais are backup and standby for Nepalese and Bangladeshis already burned out.

Surely those 30,000 Thai workers would have been and still could be employed in Thailand working on its Flood Prevention scam scheme?

As an aside all those delightful Thai job brokers will be salivating at the prospect of these people entering into the ''let's work abroad market,'' the commissions to be earned will indeed finance a not inconsequential number of new Beemers and Mercs for these job placement rip off agencies owners.

Why worry about Qatar's somewhat relaxed attitude to the ethics of employment and dubious practices no doubt about that scenario will start here as soon as anyone applies for a position in Qatar.

Surely those 30,000 Thai workers would have been and still could be employed in Thailand working on its Flood Prevention scam scheme?

As an aside all those delightful Thai job brokers will be salivating at the prospect of these people entering into the ''let's work abroad market,'' the commissions to be earned will indeed finance a not incosequental number of new Beemers and Mercs for these job placement rip off agencies owners.

Aren't they supposed to need millions to build the railways. Have you ever seen a country where companies are in cahoots with government to deflate wages quite like here.

Let's export our own coz we won't pay and import Burmese because they are cheap.

The salari there is 800 dollar a mounth for immigrants.

They only can stay 6 mounths than they have to leave.

East european's don't wont to work there anymore because in Europe you can make easy 3 times double.

They better takes some birmees labor experince and they real work

800 Dollars nepalese and indian workers saw rarely, but they die for free.

After the recent reports of the treatment of the Napalese workers in Qatar ...

if Thailand send any workers to Qatar then they are promoting slave labor.

Remind the Qatar royal family to lock up their jewelry!!

Bad cover up to get slaves to Qatar! 30000 semi skilled and skilled workers from Thailand...yeah hello...

Do they build sand castles?!

The salari there is 800 dollar a mounth for immigrants.

They only can stay 6 mounths than they have to leave.

The actual money they receive at the end of the month (they are often paid late as well) is approximately 400 - 450 US dollars.

Many of the workers have been here (Qatar) for 2 years +

The salari there is 800 dollar a mounth for immigrants.

They only can stay 6 mounths than they have to leave.

The actual money they receive at the end of the month (they are often paid late as well) is approximately 400 - 450 US dollars.

Many of the workers have been here (Qatar) for 2 years +

12000 baht? What a world. Thailand saying it has zero unemployment and people running around for 12k

Skilled and semi skilled not enough in Thailand now.I don't know where they will find anything like 30,000.

Even if you opened it out to the whole south east asian area it would be difficult,but probably achievable.

The Philippines have the numbers and some skills but 30,000 never; the skilled bit is the problem.At least many speak decent English.More than can be said of the majority of Thais.

Where are the 30,000 people coming from when Thailand says near everyone is employment and a shortage of local workers ?????/ or as I have stated before unemployment figures like other stats are near untrue or not possible to obtain, therefore guessed ??

Let me explain the system in Thailand, as I my company employed 6,000 Thai workers in Libya.

Why send 30,000 Thai Workers to Qatar when there is a labour shortage here? The answer if simple, the overseas labour employment agencies, licenced by the Ministry of Labour, charge each worker a considerable sum in order to obtain the job. Similarly, there are fees charged for Burmese, Lao and Cambodian workers to obtain jobs in Thailand. Considerable "incentives" would be lost if the Ministry stopped Thai workers going overseas and other nationalities coming here to make up the resulting shortage of Thai labour.