Thailand demands for considerable vocational workers

BANGKOK, April 24 (TNA) - The Ministry of Labor reports that Thailand demands for more than 165,000 workers over the next couple of years, especially those with vocational diplomas or degrees. Prawit Kiangpol, Director-General of the ministry's Department of Employment, made the announcement on Thursday, saying that Thailand needs the considerable workers from 2014-2017. Prawit revealed that in March 2014 alone, local employers demanded for a total of 40.067 workers to fill the positions of clerks, sale persons and services staffs. Prawit cautioned that Thailand could face at least 165,000 workers, mostly those with vocational diplomas and degrees, from 2014-2017, as overall domestic demand would be three times short of new vocational graduates during the period. According to the senior official, local employers will demand additional 50 per cent for machine shop mechanics and additional 20 per cent for welders, as well as additional 10 per cent each for electricians, mechatronics and molders, while seeking, as well, additional 70 per cent for engineering graduates, additional 20 per cent each for marketing, personnel management and computerized graduates and additional 10 per cent each for financial, clerical and public relations (PR) staffs. Meanwhile, Thanavath Phonvichai, Director of the Economic and Business Forecasting Center of Bangkok-based University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, told reporters that a recent survey showed most Thai workers, earning lower than 15,000 baht monthly, had more debts and their status was the worst in six years after 2009. Thanavath noted the survey showed that 93.7 per cent of the low-income workers' families lived with debts of over 100,000 baht each and they must repay 6,600 baht per installment. Besides, 56 per cent of the surveyed workers had higher informal debts amounting to 7,400 baht per family, the highest in five years, while 44 per cent of them had formal debts of 5,400 baht per family and only 24 per cent of them had savings, the lowest proportion in six years after 2009. The survey also found that 74 per cent of Thai workers could not make ends meet because of rising costs of living, lower incomes and higher interest rates. Of the surveyed workers, the senior Thai economist pointed out, 29 per cent faced high chances of layoffs and 44 per cent had medium chances, the percentages of which rose from last year. The survey found that Thai workers' biggest concerns rested with their debts, followed by present incomes, expensive goods and layoffs, as the Thai economic growth rate has been predicted at lower than 2.5 per cent this year. The senior economist urged the government to raise Thailand's daily minimum wage from 300 to 388 baht right away, to 498 baht within three years and 579 baht within five years, reasoning that Thailand's present daily minimum wage cannot cover workers' costs of living. (TNA)