Thai opinion: Something to cheer, something to fear

[webfact]

Something to cheer, something to fear

Be thankful and mindful about our strengths and weaknesses

BANGKOK: -- Two pieces of economic information have been doing the rounds on social media lately. The "good news" is relatively old, referring to the release earlier this year of Bloomberg's "Misery Index" that ranked Thailand as the happiest economy on earth, above even the likes of Switzerland, Denmark, Norway and Japan.

The other news was effectively a warning that local jobs are being offered to cheaper foreign labour, and things can get worse in the near future.

Thailand was dubbed a "surprise" winner in Bloomberg's survey and calculations, as the coup, martial law and political turmoil didn't go unnoticed. While Bloomberg has criticised the Thai junta in a more recent report for lacking a coherent economic plan, it was admitted in the "Misery Index" survey that the country did exceptionally well in that study thanks to low unemployment and cheap food. This confirms a school of thought that says agricultural countries are better equipped to survive hard economic crises, because, when bad comes to worse, at least there will always be food on the table.

Switzerland, Japan and South Korea were the first, second and third runners-up respectively. The United States was eighth. The Asean country closest to Thailand on the table was Malaysia, at 14th place, edging Germany. Somehow, Thailand, a country knocked about by western democracies, is the least economically miserable nation.

But where employment is concerned, signs of change have been spotted. Social media has been buzzing with a story that some Japanese restaurants in downtown Bangkok are accepting only workers from Myanmar and even putting up job vacancy advertisement in the language of that country. French restaurants in Bangkok, meanwhile, are reportedly hiring Filipinos. Young foreign workers have been seen at some brand-name coffee shops.

Shop managers hiring employees from neighbouring countries will cite cheap salaries. But English has become an increasingly influential factor, too. Coffee shops and restaurants serving foreign customers are finding Filipinos, for example, more effective than young Thai workers.

With labour migration expected to become more easy, Thai youngsters who lack English language skills must be prepared for a tougher time in finding jobs that weren't too hard to obtain in the past.

Another factor is said to be young Thais' reluctance to be "service providers", especially in the fields that require strenuous and constant service like restaurants. This is more or less the same phenomenon that made Thai young women shun work as housemaids and opt for factory jobs not so long ago.

However, providing service involves a lot more than restaurants and coffee shops. Currently, jobs that have been grabbed by migrants from neighbouring countries may not be of extreme significance. However, the luxury of choosing jobs one likes may not be as much as before. Being picky, when combined with disadvantages in English, can make Thai job-seekers lose out to their neighbouring counterparts.

When it comes to teaching English, Thailand is still going slowly. What has been promised or thought up by democratic or military governments has not happened. The only positive - more prevalent English programmes at universities or expensive schools - is driven by business interests, not the noble purposes to make Thai students, rich or poor, good at reading, writing and speaking English.

We can now see how the two pieces of news being circulated on the social media conflict with each other. Official figures indicating low unemployment brought Thailand the unlikely status of the least miserable place economically, whereas warning signs for future employment are looking more glaring. The former information gave a sense of comfort, a reassurance that we have an economic safety net that eludes many other countries. The latter is a statement against complacency, telling us to keep one eye on what the outside world is doing.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Something-to-cheer-something-to-fear-30266703.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-17

[clockman]

Who paid for the survey?

[jaywalker]

Ignorance is bliss.

[worgeordie]

Just because its called "the land of smiles" does not mean

everyone IS happy.

regards Worgeordie

[bangkokfrog]

I think they must have used data from some of the recent government surveys.

[saakura]

True. It does seem most posters on thai visa are very unhappy.

[thesetat2013]

Thai opinion? Something to cheer or fear? A famous phrase jumps into my head about this headline that can relate to Thais. If I want your opinion, I WILL GIVE IT TO YOU! This is taught at a very young age as well as in schools here.

[razer]

This is a very popular propaganda technique aimed at the US presidential election and probably Bernie Sanders in particular.

First, look at the title .... "Misery Index"

Second, an economy can't be happy or sad.

Third, the stats are based only on unemployment and inflation (hardly a complete picture of an economy) and unemployment figures can be shamefully manipulated

Fourth, take a look at the countries omitted from the "Misery Index" This is selective manipulation of statistics to give the desired outcome.

[Thian]

I also prefer restaurants/shops where they can speak english. Siam Paragon is a big shame though, nobody speaks english there.

[Plutojames88]

Believing Thai economic news or polls is akin to the Scout masters of yesterday and their knowing suspect smirks , enough to make you change your mind about sending Johnny on Camp.

It's hard to put your finger on it but the data is always at best not quiet right.

The service industry using non Thais is indicative of their desires to succeed in Tough times.

Westerners are increasingly , seeing items on slaves , LM sentences and democracy buried in stalling tactics while a military governs in the guise of an elected body by the people.

Juntas I think scare away folks.

Edited August 17, 2015 by Plutojames88

[AlQaholic]

Only problem, they got the unemployment rate completely wrong, ignorance is bliss as #3 jaywalker said.

[FangFerang]

Perhaps the most worthless survey I have ever read about. It draws no empirical conclusions based on understood facts. It serves an agenda.

I would not even use a copy of it as toilet paper.

[Thai at Heart]

Under what rules is a restaurant allowed to employ foreign Nationals to serve food?

[elgordo38]

Under what rules is a restaurant allowed to employ foreign Nationals to serve food?

Good question any bright answers"