Foreign chambers of commerce against work stoppage

BANGKOK, November 13 (TNA) - The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT) has expressed opposition to a three-day work stoppage called earlier by Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister and an ex-MP of the main opposition Democrat Party. JFCCT Chairman Stanley Kang told journalists on Wednesday, after meeting with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong earlier in the day, that the JFCCT shares the same view with the Thai Chamber of Commerce against the proposed work stoppage, as it would affect local private firms’ operations. Kang suggested employees should continue working as normal, as they could join rallies, if they wanted, after finishing their daily work. According to the JFCCT chair, international business operators are still confident in investing in Thailand, as most of them have eyed medium and long-term investment plans in the country; so, ongoing political demonstrations, with short-term impacts, do not worry them. The JFCCT chief also called on the Thai government to carry on its free trade agreements (FTAs) talks with Europe and India and to approve a long-term visa waiver, about 5-10 years, for foreign executives who enter into Thailand for business purposes. Kittirat, meanwhile, told reporters that he briefed the JFCCT chief and his delegation on the ongoing political demonstrations and the JFCCT delegates expressed their concerns over the civil disobedience through the three-day work stoppage, urged by Suthep, as there are now a total of about eight million workers in the Thai economy. (TNA)