2009 budget needed to tackle layoffs

Recalling her discussion with Olarn yesterday, Uraiwan said she was confident that the funding for 10 projects to tackle layoffs would be given the green light, though the amounts may not be the same as those proposed. She said Olarn also wanted details for some projects, such as the "Bundit Asa" scheme under which new graduates across the country are given a choice of jobs in the South.

She said a conclusion on these projects should be drawn soon so it can be brought up at the first meeting of MPs in early January. Related ministries had a final discussion on the matter on Monday.

Meanwhile, Labour Protection and Welfare Department chief Amporn Nitisiri reported that an additional 26 factories had folded over the past week, leaving a total of 18,249 people jobless. So far 163 factories have shut down and another 66 are on the edge, with 39,751 workers standing to lose their jobs. These businesses -mostly small and mediumsized manufacturers of furniture, accessories, clothes, electronic goods and food products - are going bust because of the lack of financial liquidity, fewer orders from overseas, a stronger Thai baht, the lack of raw materials and the termination of contracts.

In related news, Uraiwan also said that the committee for alienworker management would table a new round of registration for 800,000 aliens currently working and living in Thailand at the Cabinet meeting next Tuesday. This would allow workers from Laos, Burma and Cambodia to work legally until February 23, 2010.

The committee would also set three locations for regular registration of Burmese workers along the border near Chiang Rai, Tak and Ranong.

This measure - introduced to tackle labour shortages - would not affect Thai workers because only ten businesses were allowed to employ foreigners, including fishing, livestock and agriculture. Currently there are 501,570 registered immigrant workers and 75,234 of them have proven nationality.