Oil crisis: Mass layoffs feared
Crewmembers of fishing trawlers and petrol-station attendants will likely take the brunt of a wave of layoffs coming soon, as high oil prices slam fuel-sensitive sectors, a seminar was told yesterday.
Up to Bt100 million has been reserved for severance pay, said Sathaphorn Jarupha, a senior official at the Labour Protection and Welfare Department. The department will encourage employers to avoid layoffs and opt for other measures instead, such as reducing overtime or shortening working hours, he said. Employment Department director-general Juthathawas Intharasuksri said his department had found 70,000 jobs for workers who are laid off. He said the layoffs would likely start early next month at a worrying rate, without giving an estimate. The seminar, held at the Labour Ministry, gathered ministry officials and members of the Labour Tripartite Board as well as leaders from unions and other labour bodies. Chaiyaphorn Janthana, a member of the Labour Tripartite Board representing workers, said the minimum daily wage could be raised twice this year by as much as Bt6 a day each time. Jamras Chailangkarn, another member representing workers, said he would soon submit a request to the Social Security Office to include therapy for stress caused by economic constraints in its medical coverage for workers and low-income earners.
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