Wage hike draws foreign workers

News > Local News

Published: 7 Jan 2013 at 18.22
Online news: Local News

Many provinces from the Northeast to the South are feeling the pinch of the government's new wage policy which has begun to attract workers from neighbouring countries seeking jobs in Thailand.

A construction-material store in Phitsanulok province is in need of workers with 300-baht-daily wage. (Photo by Chinnawat Singha)

Police in Buri Ram province have arrested 208 illegal immigrants, 80% of them Cambodians, over the past four days starting Jan 1 after the 300-baht daily wage took effect across the country, said Pol Maj Gen Rattapong Yimyai, the provincial police chief. The rest were from Laos and Myanmar, he added.

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Bangon
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Discussion 9 : 08 Jan 2013 at 01.319
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From 2016 on, many of these cheaper foreign workers might start to find jobs in their countries... The labour-intensive SME's only chance of survival will be to follow them outside Thailand. What is the best choice for Thai workers? No job at 300Bht/day, or a job for less? Well done PTP anyway, strangling SME's is a good way to hurt many who don't agree with the Great Leader's masterplan, and vote for the Dem's, and it'll create a new legion of malcontents to vote for His populist mirages!
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somnamna
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Discussion 8 : 08 Jan 2013 at 01.218
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Companies, Factories & Big Firms are on the loose cuz of government policies and non sense laws, Thank you Obama Lover, Why don't you demand that 200 or 300 Baht are only applied for Thais only and any firm employ other than Thais should be closed and doomed. How about that for a solution.
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2ploenchit
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Discussion 7 : 07 Jan 2013 at 21.307
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Illegal workers aren't eligible for the pay rise. They enter because they are going to replace many who are.
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OldThaiHand
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Discussion 6 : 07 Jan 2013 at 20.576
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When the AEC kicks in and those illegal migrants become legal because of free trade, then what are the Thais going to do?
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bikeme
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Discussion 5 : 07 Jan 2013 at 20.085
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Instead of hiring PR people to come up with vote attracting policies,,. the PTP should have hired economists and business experts to come up with well thought thru policies that actually worked as promised.
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buster
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Discussion 4 : 07 Jan 2013 at 20.074
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Foreign labor in for a 300 bath wage? no no, laid of workers replacement for a lot less.
Here we go again, THE opportunity to cry foul over the staggering cost of local laobor and the arisen argument that in order to keep the business running cheaper labor is the only answer.
Fellow inhabitants of Thailand, If the government is planning to curb health care schemes, the cost for healthcare is a fiscal cliff for most workers.
Migrant workers from the NE and N parts of the country work in order to support a family @home AND themselves.
it is as simple as that.....
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genii
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Discussion 3 : 07 Jan 2013 at 20.043
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Nothing better for business than a happy workforce.
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djjp
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Discussion 2 : 07 Jan 2013 at 19.312
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Another successful populist policy. I envisage this year that there will be illegal immigrants harvesting rice that will go into the rice pledging scheme. Another failed policy. The rope is getting shorted and no amnesty yet. I can't wait to hear how the "brainwashed" are going to defend this one..Hang on, yes I do...Like they always do, come up with an excuse that does not hold water and let it all blow over....Some things never change.
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flooding
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Discussion 1 : 07 Jan 2013 at 19.271
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Does government understand what is going on in industries. In some industries orders are not enough and business are closing down. In other areas such as car industry their are orders but no workers. Thailand needs foreign labour. I am losing labour very fast, even though I am in the car and electrical industry I can find orders but not workers. Because I am losing labour I am not delivering on time. And then I begin to lose money too because I cannot find workers, so I will also have to close down too. At this rate all SME are going to close down.
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