Bangkok: The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) has issued a strong call for the government to address the growing labor shortage problem that is affecting various industries across Thailand. The committee has urged the government to extend work permits for foreign workers as a matter of urgency to prevent potential economic disruptions.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Suchart Chantranakrach, Vice President of the Federation of Thai Industries, highlighted the urgency of addressing labor shortages in labor-intensive industries. The Joint Committee of the Three Private Sector Institutions (JCC) has emphasized the need for a balanced approach to managing foreign labor, taking into account security, economic, and social factors.
The JSCCIB has expressed concerns that the current labor shortage could negatively impact production, exports, and the country's overall competitiveness. The committee believes that the government should implement both short-term and medium-term measures to address the issue. In the short term, renewing work permits for foreign workers is seen as a crucial step to prevent a sudden loss of labor. In the long term, the government is urged to develop a systematic plan for managing foreign workers to align with the economic sector's needs, thus maintaining labor stability and investment confidence.
The committee also stressed the importance of addressing the seasonal labor needs in the eastern provinces, particularly for fruit-picking activities in Trat, Chanthaburi, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, and Prachinburi, where the shortage of workers could have significant impacts.
The JSCCIB plans to present its proposals to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Labour, seeking expedited measures to tackle these pressing issues.
Mr. Athip Pechanon, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, stated that the focus should be on current workers in Thailand who can have their work permits renewed immediately. He also emphasized the need to register workers who are already in Thailand but not yet legally documented, ensuring they can retain their status in the country, while suggesting that their wages should be capped at 20,000 baht per month.