Fly on Corporate Wall

Among the private firms racing to bolster their finances against the government-imposed increase in the minimum wage, Textile Gallery Co – which makes Pasaya homewares – employs 1,200 people in Ratchaburi and 5,000 more in other provinces.
“The 40-per-cent increase is a big challenge,” admits marketing director Narong Lertkitsiri. “Management has to put in quite an effort just to break even.”
The firm’s top priority now is securing more orders to meet rising operational costs. “We won’t survive without driving up our sales, so it’s a really tough time,” Narong says. He’s not surprised to hear that some Thai firms are building factories beyond the border to maintain their competitive edge.
Textile Gallery has no such plans, he says, “but who knows? We might have to move in the near future. This policy of the government seems designed to help boost investment in neighbouring countries.”

Keep ’em happy
A lot of hotels in Phuket and Krabi prefer to hire migrant workers because Thais tend to be job-hoppers.
But Pramuk Achariyachai, chairman of Kata Group Resort Co, which owns and runs six southern inns, says it only hires Thais despite the difficulty in maintaining full staff complements.
They do indeed often jump around among jobs, he tells Lips magazine. “Once they’re trained they start thinking about finding better-paying jobs elsewhere.”
So Kata deploys its secret method to keep staff happy: They’re treated to an overseas trip every low season. “My wife and I love travelling, and I think our employees should have |the same opportunity,” Pramuk |says.
“Just keep them happy and try to sincerely enhance their knowledge and experience to foster teamwork,” he advises other hoteliers. Promote employees who perform well. And discourage early retirement.
“If a 60-year-old can work capably, why not let him or her? That way you keep the corporate culture intact,” Pramuk says. A generous philosophy, a strong team and a little help from modern technology: three reasons the owner of six hotels can somehow still manage to play golf every day.

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