Airport closure leads to shutdown of 30 plants

 The plants employ 13,210 workers. They set no exact date when to resume operations.

 "We have not yet received any complaints from workers as the owners promise to reinstate normal payments once the airport reopens," said the department's director-general Amporn Nitisiri. Tourist venues in Samut Prakan reported a drop in visitors by 20-30 per cent. So far, they have not yet laid off workers but the department is concerned that prolonged protests could lead to layoffs.

 So far this year, 489 plants with 42,315 workforce have shut down. About 164 are on the brink of collapse, hiring 72,887 workers. Most of them - mostly in electronics, electrical appliances, and jewellery industries - suffer from liquidity problems.