FTI sees 1.1m lost jobs in first half

FTI deputy secretary-general Sommat Khunset said yesterday that workers in the electrical and electronics, automotive and ceramic industries faced the highest risk of losing their jobs, according to its survey. Most of the affected employees would be those in the Northeast.

"If this prediction is correct, the number of unemployed workers would account for 12.4 per cent of the 9 million workforce in the industrial sector," he said.

He said 30 per cent of the FTI members surveyed said they would probably lay off more workers if they received fewer orders. So far, most companies have witnessed a 20-per-cent drop in orders, compared to the same period last year.

Auto-parts manufacturers yesterday hosted a meeting to discuss the bleak outlook, as auto-makers may cut production and lay off workers in the light of the gloomy domestic and global economic outlook.

The global economy is expected to grow by only 1 per cent next year. According to the National Economic and Social Development Board, the Thai economy will expand at best by 3 per cent if the prevailing economic and domestic political problems remain.

Earlier, FTI chairman Santi Vilassakdanont estimated that about 1 million workers would lose their jobs next year. However, the latest survey, which covered FTI members across the country, resulted in the figure of 1.1 million.

 Sommat suggested liquidity injection into small and medium-sized firms to relieve the problem. The Finance Ministry plans to ask the Cabinet's approval for a Bt200-billion soft loan package for SMEs at the December 9 meeting in order to stave off more lay-offs.

According to Labour Protection and Welfare Department director-general Amporn Nitisiri, 31 factories in Ayutthaya recently laid off more than 4,000 workers.

 The number of laid-off workers has risen to 30,538 nationwide as 349 factories trimmed their workforce to cope with the economic crisis. She added that about 123 factories were planning to shed another 56,970 workers.

One of the affected operators in Ayutthaya is Nikon Thailand, which is laying off 2,192 workers who will receive compensation of Bt20 million today.

Thai Labour Solidarity Committee president Wilaiwan sae Tia said the unions of banks, auto firms, electrical companies and textile companies would on Friday jointly submit a request to the Labour Ministry for assistance measures for laid-off workers.