How Thailand could really boost its economy

[Thai at Heart]

One reason Thais receive decent pay, relative to places like China, is that they have family farms they Own, where they can go to both live and eat. The solution that the transnational-corporations would like to see is both simple and brutal - just take a page out of history.

The "enclosure acts" of Britain forced farmers off the land, and into slums in large cities, where they could be forced to work long-hours for low-pay - or starve. As the Lords at the time noted, a man could not be forced into such conditions if he had the option of going home and eating, so they simply took that option away. ...

"One reason Thais receive decent pay, relative to places like China, is that they have family farms they Own, where they can go to both live and eat."

Are you claiming subsistence farmers are well off?

I'd love to see what you base that claim on!

Better off than those with no where to go or eat absent a paycheck? Yes - much better off. Family farmers don't have to worry about how they will "pay rent" for permission to "be" somewhere on Earth. Most people in developed nations do not experience that after childhood. Thailand has managed to both develop, and retain many individual's "right to exist" without being "deemed useful" or "efficient" to a corporate entity.

This is not to in any way suggest a luxurious lifestyle, or to diminish the benefits of becoming a part of a middle-class and working for a business which offers a good standard of living, benefits, etc. More of that would be better, but this is not on offer from those building the new factories in Vietnam.

Knowing that farm-life is the "worst case," if the job / economy fails, does provide a peace of mind not experienced by people who have no right to live anywhere, except under the conditions dictated by, and obedience to, someone else. In the context of this article, this means Thais can decline poor pay and working-conditions, which may be worse than what is available on their farm. Compared to a Chinese sweatshop, the farm, family, etc, is a big step up.

And yet in China people abandon their farms to go work in sweatshops, as they do in every other nation when subsistence farmers are given any other option.

Family farmers have to worry about how they will pay for seeds and fertilizer, and sometimes send their daughters to brothels in order to get the money. People raised in subsistence farms often have stunted growth from a protein deficient diet. The stoop labor of non-mechanized farming in any situation is hard, this kind of labor in tropical heat, ankle deep in muddy water, in a land full of mosquito borne diseases, parasites, and poisonous snakes is miserable. I assume you have never experienced anything like this life or you wouldn't have such an idealized view of it.

The amount of farmers renting land in Thailand is enormous.

[spidermike007]

Seize all farang bank accounts.......and right AFTER high-season, they say it's computer problem, then take it all!!! Then take all condos.......think of the billions!!!!

then seize all cars........etc....

and have a lottery like powerball in USA, and put in tons of casinos, and continue to fleece the sheep...

real money isn't here anyhow.....only people on budget with no real political might

How does one even respond to such a degree of ignorance?

[JackThompson]

One reason Thais receive decent pay, relative to places like China, is that they have family farms they Own, where they can go to both live and eat. The solution that the transnational-corporations would like to see is both simple and brutal - just take a page out of history.

The "enclosure acts" of Britain forced farmers off the land, and into slums in large cities, where they could be forced to work long-hours for low-pay - or starve. As the Lords at the time noted, a man could not be forced into such conditions if he had the option of going home and eating, so they simply took that option away. ...

"One reason Thais receive decent pay, relative to places like China, is that they have family farms they Own, where they can go to both live and eat."

Are you claiming subsistence farmers are well off?

I'd love to see what you base that claim on!

Better off than those with no where to go or eat absent a paycheck? Yes - much better off. Family farmers don't have to worry about how they will "pay rent" for permission to "be" somewhere on Earth. Most people in developed nations do not experience that after childhood. Thailand has managed to both develop, and retain many individual's "right to exist" without being "deemed useful" or "efficient" to a corporate entity.

This is not to in any way suggest a luxurious lifestyle, or to diminish the benefits of becoming a part of a middle-class and working for a business which offers a good standard of living, benefits, etc. More of that would be better, but this is not on offer from those building the new factories in Vietnam.

Knowing that farm-life is the "worst case," if the job / economy fails, does provide a peace of mind not experienced by people who have no right to live anywhere, except under the conditions dictated by, and obedience to, someone else. In the context of this article, this means Thais can decline poor pay and working-conditions, which may be worse than what is available on their farm. Compared to a Chinese sweatshop, the farm, family, etc, is a big step up.

And yet in China people abandon their farms to go work in sweatshops, as they do in every other nation when subsistence farmers are given any other option.

Family farmers have to worry about how they will pay for seeds and fertilizer, and sometimes send their daughters to brothels in order to get the money. People raised in subsistence farms often have stunted growth from a protein deficient diet. The stoop labor of non-mechanized farming in any situation is hard, this kind of labor in tropical heat, ankle deep in muddy water, in a land full of mosquito borne diseases, parasites, and poisonous snakes is miserable. I assume you have never experienced anything like this life or you wouldn't have such an idealized view of it.

There is a difference between "idealizing" and recognizing the existence of a "worst case" bottom-rung. Consider that the lowest labor costs are in so-called 'communist'** regimes, where the choices of working people are restricted by the state. This includes what they can do with their farms, given all land is 'state property'.

Perhaps Thais are paid better than those in many other countries because their government has their back, in more ways than one? I am open to alternative explanations.

** 'communist' = 'state-monopoly capitalism', in reality. In recent years, add in partnerships between these states and transnational corporations, selling their people's labor. In the case of China, the ruling-class families becoming multi-Billionaire 'immortals', in the process.

[jaywalker]

One reason Thais receive decent pay, relative to places like China, is that they have family farms they Own, where they can go to both live and eat. The solution that the transnational-corporations would like to see is both simple and brutal - just take a page out of history.

The "enclosure acts" of Britain forced farmers off the land, and into slums in large cities, where they could be forced to work long-hours for low-pay - or starve. As the Lords at the time noted, a man could not be forced into such conditions if he had the option of going home and eating, so they simply took that option away. In Mexico, the same was accomplished with NAFTA, and flooding the nation with cheap (US-government subsidized) corn, until most family farms went bankrupt, leaving a massive supply of "surplus labor" that has driven down the cost of labor both there, and in the USA.

Fortunately, the Sustainability programs of Thailand aim to preserve family-farms, and protect the Thai citizens from being driven to the level of exploitation to which the comparison of "labor cost" is being made - China and Indonesia, to name two modern examples.

It is for this reason that multinationals operating factories in Thailand tend to operate using imported labor. The alternative would be to require higher wages at those jobs, which would result in their quick-relocation to other nations, whose citizens options are more limited. As it stands, Thailand can collect taxes on those businesses, and permit enough foreign-labor to make them economically viable in the global economy, but without allowing a flood of immigration which would drive up Thailand's unemployment rate. This seems like a reasonable compromise in the best interest of Thai people, from my perspective.

"One reason Thais receive decent pay, relative to places like China, is that they have family farms they Own, where they can go to both live and eat."

Are you claiming subsistence farmers are well off?

I'd love to see what you base that claim on!

My wife's parents are rice farmers & more or less live off the land, with a rare trip into Prasat once a month or so. They cook on charcoal on the back porch... that I built for them. I actually enclosed the lower portion of their house and installed a well and some indoor plumbing for them.

I also bought some furniture (couch, chairs, dining room set, stove, refrigerator, queen sized bed etc.)

They continue to sit and sleep and eat on the floor. They have a dip tank installed in the bathroom, right next to the shower head, and prefer it to hot showers.

It was my wife's idea to buy all that stuff, but they seem pretty much set in their ways.

They were "well off" before I came along, and still are happy to continue living like they do.

[heybruce]

One reason Thais receive decent pay, relative to places like China, is that they have family farms they Own, where they can go to both live and eat. The solution that the transnational-corporations would like to see is both simple and brutal - just take a page out of history.

The "enclosure acts" of Britain forced farmers off the land, and into slums in large cities, where they could be forced to work long-hours for low-pay - or starve. As the Lords at the time noted, a man could not be forced into such conditions if he had the option of going home and eating, so they simply took that option away. In Mexico, the same was accomplished with NAFTA, and flooding the nation with cheap (US-government subsidized) corn, until most family farms went bankrupt, leaving a massive supply of "surplus labor" that has driven down the cost of labor both there, and in the USA.

Fortunately, the Sustainability programs of Thailand aim to preserve family-farms, and protect the Thai citizens from being driven to the level of exploitation to which the comparison of "labor cost" is being made - China and Indonesia, to name two modern examples.

It is for this reason that multinationals operating factories in Thailand tend to operate using imported labor. The alternative would be to require higher wages at those jobs, which would result in their quick-relocation to other nations, whose citizens options are more limited. As it stands, Thailand can collect taxes on those businesses, and permit enough foreign-labor to make them economically viable in the global economy, but without allowing a flood of immigration which would drive up Thailand's unemployment rate. This seems like a reasonable compromise in the best interest of Thai people, from my perspective.

"One reason Thais receive decent pay, relative to places like China, is that they have family farms they Own, where they can go to both live and eat."

Are you claiming subsistence farmers are well off?

I'd love to see what you base that claim on!

My wife's parents are rice farmers & more or less live off the land, with a rare trip into Prasat once a month or so. They cook on charcoal on the back porch... that I built for them. I actually enclosed the lower portion of their house and installed a well and some indoor plumbing for them.

I also bought some furniture (couch, chairs, dining room set, stove, refrigerator, queen sized bed etc.)

They continue to sit and sleep and eat on the floor. They have a dip tank installed in the bathroom, right next to the shower head, and prefer it to hot showers.

It was my wife's idea to buy all that stuff, but they seem pretty much set in their ways.

They were "well off" before I came along, and still are happy to continue living like they do.

I take it their children, including your wife, wanted something better.

[heybruce]

"One reason Thais receive decent pay, relative to places like China, is that they have family farms they Own, where they can go to both live and eat."

Are you claiming subsistence farmers are well off?

I'd love to see what you base that claim on!

Better off than those with no where to go or eat absent a paycheck? Yes - much better off. Family farmers don't have to worry about how they will "pay rent" for permission to "be" somewhere on Earth. Most people in developed nations do not experience that after childhood. Thailand has managed to both develop, and retain many individual's "right to exist" without being "deemed useful" or "efficient" to a corporate entity.

This is not to in any way suggest a luxurious lifestyle, or to diminish the benefits of becoming a part of a middle-class and working for a business which offers a good standard of living, benefits, etc. More of that would be better, but this is not on offer from those building the new factories in Vietnam.

Knowing that farm-life is the "worst case," if the job / economy fails, does provide a peace of mind not experienced by people who have no right to live anywhere, except under the conditions dictated by, and obedience to, someone else. In the context of this article, this means Thais can decline poor pay and working-conditions, which may be worse than what is available on their farm. Compared to a Chinese sweatshop, the farm, family, etc, is a big step up.

And yet in China people abandon their farms to go work in sweatshops, as they do in every other nation when subsistence farmers are given any other option.

Family farmers have to worry about how they will pay for seeds and fertilizer, and sometimes send their daughters to brothels in order to get the money. People raised in subsistence farms often have stunted growth from a protein deficient diet. The stoop labor of non-mechanized farming in any situation is hard, this kind of labor in tropical heat, ankle deep in muddy water, in a land full of mosquito borne diseases, parasites, and poisonous snakes is miserable. I assume you have never experienced anything like this life or you wouldn't have such an idealized view of it.

There is a difference between "idealizing" and recognizing the existence of a "worst case" bottom-rung. Consider that the lowest labor costs are in so-called 'communist'** regimes, where the choices of working people are restricted by the state. This includes what they can do with their farms, given all land is 'state property'.

Perhaps Thais are paid better than those in many other countries because their government has their back, in more ways than one? I am open to alternative explanations.

** 'communist' = 'state-monopoly capitalism', in reality. In recent years, add in partnerships between these states and transnational corporations, selling their people's labor. In the case of China, the ruling-class families becoming multi-Billionaire 'immortals', in the process.

I don't know what this claim that Thai's are paid better than those in other countries is based on, in fact I don't know how one can arrive at a credible estimate of the average Thai pay. The minimum wage law is routinely ignored, and much of the economy is the unmeasured grey economy.

However through-out history, all over the world, people abandon subsistence farming in droves for almost any other work. Manual subsistence farming is the bottom rung, or close to it.

[digibum]

The 'high' in labour cost is measured to the labour productivity of Thai workers. And the proof is in the flood of skilled workers from neighbouring countries on all construction sites.

And the reason for this 'high' labour cost with no corresponding increase in labour productivity is the lack of rule of law and corruption leading to vote buying through populist policies.

I think your holding the wrong end of the stick here, lets get it straight, no reform has been instigated by the government or have the employers wanted it to date, Australia went down that route back in the 80's workers embraced reform there and were rewarded, eventually productivity stalled as there was nothing left to trade for higher wages, wage growth has remained flat for years with any growth in income going to the top 20%.

Anyone who thinks Thais get paid to much are delusional, and if there were to be any reform needed employers would be pushing for it and there not. Since Your way off the mark over Thai salaries everything you have stated its farcical.

Migrant workers fill a void that isn't being met by Thai's i would hardly think these Burmese are skilled, you can argue the toss but as the population gets better educated there not going to want to dig up roads and build sky scrapers.

It's not that Thais get paid too much, it's that productivity is low. At every turn you see where productivity could be introduced but the powers that be are afraid it might lead to unemployment. Thailand relishes in the fact that they have 0% unemployment despite every economist in the world agreeing that some unemployment is healthy in an economy.

When you hire 10 people to harvest a field that one person on a modern piece of machinery can harvest, it's not that each individual is too expensive but that the 10 wages are too expensive. When Vietnam is willing to bring in the necessary productivity tools and sell the same product cheaper, there aren't too many good solutions.

Thailand is in a tough spot. They want to become a modern society with strong domestic demand but that means they have to pay people enough to purchase goods and services. Unfortunately, they're also a nation built on the back of cheap, unskilled labor and unless they provide the mechanisms for Thais to transition into a better skilled, thus higher paid, jobs, they're rowing against the tide.

And a lot of this is due to Thai hubris. They've had nearly 4 decades of advantage over their neighbors who have all been mired in civil wars, mass extermination of people, and oppressive backwards governments. Instead of using the opportunity to modernize the economy, they felt that their good run was a result of their own exceptionalism and didn't reinvest any of it in the people or the economy but instead allowed it to all to fall into the hands of a relatively small number of elites who are just now beginning to wake up to the fact that the house of cards is about to collapse.

[digibum]

One reason Thais receive decent pay, relative to places like China, is that they have family farms they Own, where they can go to both live and eat. The solution that the transnational-corporations would like to see is both simple and brutal - just take a page out of history.

The "enclosure acts" of Britain forced farmers off the land, and into slums in large cities, where they could be forced to work long-hours for low-pay - or starve. As the Lords at the time noted, a man could not be forced into such conditions if he had the option of going home and eating, so they simply took that option away. ...

"One reason Thais receive decent pay, relative to places like China, is that they have family farms they Own, where they can go to both live and eat."

Are you claiming subsistence farmers are well off?

I'd love to see what you base that claim on!

Better off than those with no where to go or eat absent a paycheck? Yes - much better off. Family farmers don't have to worry about how they will "pay rent" for permission to "be" somewhere on Earth. Most people in developed nations do not experience that after childhood. Thailand has managed to both develop, and retain many individual's "right to exist" without being "deemed useful" or "efficient" to a corporate entity.

This is not to in any way suggest a luxurious lifestyle, or to diminish the benefits of becoming a part of a middle-class and working for a business which offers a good standard of living, benefits, etc. More of that would be better, but this is not on offer from those building the new factories in Vietnam.

Knowing that farm-life is the "worst case," if the job / economy fails, does provide a peace of mind not experienced by people who have no right to live anywhere, except under the conditions dictated by, and obedience to, someone else. In the context of this article, this means Thais can decline poor pay and working-conditions, which may be worse than what is available on their farm. Compared to a Chinese sweatshop, the farm, family, etc, is a big step up.

Actually, most of those farmers don't own their land. Something like 80% of all useful land in Thailand is owned by something like 20 families. They rent the land. Which means they're actually a lot worse off than you think because the owners of that land want paid for the use of it and that is why most farmers are up to their neck in debt.

If they owned the land and could live off of the land, great. I can see the point. But they don't. It's more like a feudal system where farmers are forced to work the land since they have no other way to pay off the debts incurred in bad harvest years.

[digibum]

There is a difference between "idealizing" and recognizing the existence of a "worst case" bottom-rung. Consider that the lowest labor costs are in so-called 'communist'** regimes, where the choices of working people are restricted by the state. This includes what they can do with their farms, given all land is 'state property'.

Perhaps Thais are paid better than those in many other countries because their government has their back, in more ways than one? I am open to alternative explanations.

** 'communist' = 'state-monopoly capitalism', in reality. In recent years, add in partnerships between these states and transnational corporations, selling their people's labor. In the case of China, the ruling-class families becoming multi-Billionaire 'immortals', in the process.

Uhm, I'm not really sure how you distinguish between communism and what happens in Thailand. Strong central authority (Bangkok)? Yep. Manipulation of costs of goods (price of petrol, domestic prices of food staples)? Yep. State sponsored nationalism? Yep.

The government in Thailand only has the backs of the people in the sense that they're very good at knowing what will trigger an uprise and they control those aspects of Thai society with an iron fist.

[Cook my sock]

I don't see the economy getting better generally but I do see Bangkok becoming a hideously expensive place to live in say ten years, much like London to the rest of uk

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited October 30, 2015 by Cook my sock

[Thian]

By reforming it's education-system, to start with educating electricians.

To start producing/selling on large scale with technology/machinery.

By having a policeforce who does it's job.

By improving the quality of their produce.

By stopping the mai pen rai mentality.

By allowing foreigners to start company's.

[Lung Mike]

I my former Thai construction company we needed at least five people to do the same amount of manual labor that one average worker in Europe would have done. Because of this low productivity, combined with low work ethics and a total lack of pride in their work, Thai labor is indeed expensive.

[Thian]

I my former Thai construction company we needed at least five people to do the same amount of manual labor that one average worker in Europe would have done. Because of this low productivity, combined with low work ethics and a total lack of pride in their work, Thai labor is indeed expensive.

And even then you still don't get the same quality as the single farang-worker would make.

My wife got promoted at her job and moved to another department.

After 3 months they had to hire 4 ! new employee's to do her old job....

They could hire farang to teach them efficiency, will it ever happen? Don't think so....

[webfact]

More celebrities reported to alcohol control panel over disguised advertisements



BANGKOK: -- A number of celebrities yesterday reported themselves to the Office of the Alcohol Control Committee over the furor raised by photos posted on Instagram that showed them with beer bottle.

They gave useful information that authorities will be using it to make inquiries from other celebrities to be summoned today.

The four celebrities reported themselves to the Office are among the seven who have inadvertently posted photos of themselves alongside beer bottle on the social media.

Such poses represented a form of advertisement and is considered illegal.

The four are ‘VJ Ja’ or Natthawiranuch Thongmee, ‘Noey Neko Jump’ or Warattha Immaraporn, ‘Ying Yeah’ Nonthaporn Thirawattanasuk and ‘Jam Neko Jump’ or Charattha Immaraporn.

All said they had unwittingly posted the photos because they were unaware that there were laws concerning the promotion of alcohol.

They said that they had been prompted by friends and acquaintances who they found out later were employed by alcohol beverages companies.

Director of the Office of the Alcohol Control Committee Dr Samarn Futrakun said that the information he had received was beneficial in helping their investigations.

He cited information given by ‘VJ Ja’ correlated with an earlier statement given by ‘DJ Woonsen’.

He also revealed that the committee was in the process of collecting all the necessary information before progressing further and will be asking ‘DJ Petcha’ and ‘DJ Phum’ to give their statements today.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/more-celebrities-reported-to-alcohol-control-panel-over-disguised-advertisements


-- Thai PBS 2015-10-30

[impulse]

I my former Thai construction company we needed at least five people to do the same amount of manual labor that one average worker in Europe would have done. Because of this low productivity, combined with low work ethics and a total lack of pride in their work, Thai labor is indeed expensive.

Stick a few of those Euro construction heroes out in the Thai sun, at 38 degrees and 95% humidity and see how much they can do before they're spent.

Then make them come back and do it again, 12 months a year, with no relief from the heat in the winter...

Edit: In fact, if you want an eye opener, look up the Euro safety regulations for the maximum time it's safe to work at 35 degrees and 95% humidity before risking heat exhaustion.

Edited October 30, 2015 by impulse

[dhream]

Legalize marijuana. Allow citizenship or some kind of secure residency to people who can build the future.

If they did the first option, their tourist worries would end tomorrow, and never look back.

Cue flames from all the fear mongers who think the 'only' herb users are 'trash tourists' (wrong, they love their lager n bourbon) degenerates, benefit thieves, hippies, and ravers.

And that the sky would collapse.

Massive swathes of middle class, middle aged people enjoy the herb with relative impunity worldwide.

[dhream]

Last year, a friend of mine who imports from China, came to LOS for a look at a plant that produces the same thing.

I have personally seen both factories, and the Thai one was streets ahead in just about every respect. They even have a side contract with a major Japanese brand.

Although we were warned about the snail's pace of doing business here, and the endless 'karaoke parties' and lunches, we were dealing with the western educated nephew, and we thought that we had made very clear to him that if we had a 'deal', we would need things to get happening immediately to ensure the merchandise flow was uninterrupted.

We should have known we were on a hiding to nothing, when we had to sit through the factory promotional video twice, they showed it again at our SECOND meeting. After an ostentatious golf course clubhouse lunch, the so-called 'decision maker', a big bejewelled Auntie, could not be found to sign a simple confidentiality agreement we had gone to some pains to get translated urgently.

By this time we'd figured out that the original business brains of the family had long since passed away, and spoiled clueless offspring were being kept in luxury by their admittedly talented middle management engineers.

Their email the following day more or less read: "So what business would you like to do with our Company?"

He is still struggling with the inferior output of the Chinese, and still looking for a better option.

[trogers]

The 'high' in labour cost is measured to the labour productivity of Thai workers. And the proof is in the flood of skilled workers from neighbouring countries on all construction sites.

And the reason for this 'high' labour cost with no corresponding increase in labour productivity is the lack of rule of law and corruption leading to vote buying through populist policies.

I think your holding the wrong end of the stick here, lets get it straight, no reform has been instigated by the government or have the employers wanted it to date, Australia went down that route back in the 80's workers embraced reform there and were rewarded, eventually productivity stalled as there was nothing left to trade for higher wages, wage growth has remained flat for years with any growth in income going to the top 20%.

Anyone who thinks Thais get paid to much are delusional, and if there were to be any reform needed employers would be pushing for it and there not. Since Your way off the mark over Thai salaries everything you have stated its farcical.

Migrant workers fill a void that isn't being met by Thai's i would hardly think these Burmese are skilled, you can argue the toss but as the population gets better educated there not going to want to dig up roads and build sky scrapers.

Yes, that's why most Americans are lawyers or stockbrokers while all those factories move to China and Mexico...

[dhream]

I my former Thai construction company we needed at least five people to do the same amount of manual labor that one average worker in Europe would have done. Because of this low productivity, combined with low work ethics and a total lack of pride in their work, Thai labor is indeed expensive.

Stick a few of those Euro construction heroes out in the Thai sun, at 38 degrees and 95% humidity and see how much they can do before they're spent.

Then make them come back and do it again, 12 months a year, with no relief from the heat in the winter...

Edit: In fact, if you want an eye opener, look up the Euro safety regulations for the maximum time it's safe to work at 35 degrees and 95% humidity before risking heat exhaustion.

Agreed. They could also consider introducing more machines and less manual for the 'heavy lifting' here, and have shift crews work overnight, in relative coolness, as is done in Singapore. Construction there only stops for public holidays, otherwise, it's full throttle until it's built.

One thing that does amaze me here is in every nice cool aircon Mall outlet, there are about 6 people standing around doing nothing most of the time.

But at least they look good in those ubiquitous tight little uniforms!

Edit: I'm not sure if I recall seeing night work in BKK recently, asian cities are becoming a bit of a blur lately, must be getting old...

Edited October 30, 2015 by dhream

[ikke]

Labour costs high? availability of labour? in Thailand? who was the moron who said that? Structural weakness like this stops foreign investment...ummmm seriously the people promoting this crap are being paid to much, of course if you want to read between the lines its all about keeping the little person down by giving them an excuse why your wages are not going up.

Take note Big Business....if you keep screwing the middle class your going to run out of people who can afford to buy you products.

You never heard about export.... ?

[Thian]

Labour costs high? availability of labour? in Thailand? who was the moron who said that? Structural weakness like this stops foreign investment...ummmm seriously the people promoting this crap are being paid to much, of course if you want to read between the lines its all about keeping the little person down by giving them an excuse why your wages are not going up.

Take note Big Business....if you keep screwing the middle class your going to run out of people who can afford to buy you products.

You never heard about export.... ?

For export you need people who speak english and who know how to do business abroad. The Thai don't have experience with that, they can grow rice.

Some folks here with big noses and white skin have it but they aren't allowed to work because they're only allowed to spend money.

[VIPinthailand]

Thailand can not boost their economy as long they try to live the American dream.

it will not work.

House, car, RV and garage full of junks have brought only misery and transformed people to a debt slave.

what Thailand needs to do is to embrace new technologies, green technologies, but they are more interested to sell to thais their crap American dream.

Edited October 30, 2015 by VIPinthailand

[dhream]

On the 'American Dream' theme, middle class Thais keep building beautiful homes -that are designed for Canada or Switzerland!

They've abandoned the practical, traditional, raised pagoda style, that not only works with the climate, but looks stunning.

We have but one 'traditional' raised wooden home in our baan, and it is for lease, and going begging. I would have grabbed it myself had I known about it beforehand.

Of course wood is protected now, and therefore more expensive than brick and tile, but nothing to stop them taking the concept and using suitable synthetic materials.

[Cook my sock]

Such a shame to read about Thai work ethics. There are some very good builders and tradesmen but yes it is a case of finding them. Rendering is something the Thais can be very good at (British Embassy)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Thai at Heart]

Labour costs high? availability of labour? in Thailand? who was the moron who said that? Structural weakness like this stops foreign investment...ummmm seriously the people promoting this crap are being paid to much, of course if you want to read between the lines its all about keeping the little person down by giving them an excuse why your wages are not going up.

Take note Big Business....if you keep screwing the middle class your going to run out of people who can afford to buy you products.

You never heard about export.... ?

For export you need people who speak english and who know how to do business abroad. The Thai don't have experience with that, they can grow rice.

Some folks here with big noses and white skin have it but they aren't allowed to work because they're only allowed to spend money.

70% of the economy is export orientated...

They have barriers to entry so some companies are dissuaded. They have a skills shortage. They are importing millions of law wage laborers. They don't add enough in the value chain because the education isn't high enough. They have too many subsistence farmers earning a pittance, domestic consumption is low. Then add the corruption.

Many many problems to solve but the biggest, education takes 20 years to filter through. Bit of a perfect storm I fear.

They have to remove the barriers to entry into the protected industries. More competition, jobs and more FDI desperately needed.

Edited October 30, 2015 by Thai at Heart

[Lung Mike]

I my former Thai construction company we needed at least five people to do the same amount of manual labor that one average worker in Europe would have done. Because of this low productivity, combined with low work ethics and a total lack of pride in their work, Thai labor is indeed expensive.

Stick a few of those Euro construction heroes out in the Thai sun, at 38 degrees and 95% humidity and see how much they can do before they're spent.

Then make them come back and do it again, 12 months a year, with no relief from the heat in the winter...

Edit: In fact, if you want an eye opener, look up the Euro safety regulations for the maximum time it's safe to work at 35 degrees and 95% humidity before risking heat exhaustion.

You are over-simplifying the local work conditions. Not all construction work is heavy and in the blazing sun. On top of that the locals do not suffer as much from the heat and humidity like us, who are coming from cold countries. I even had the same experience with my office staff, who were working in air-conditioned offices. The fact is that if you compare the labor cost to the amount of work delivered, the cost is generally not low at all. Labor conditions and wages are a seperate discussion topic.