Factory certification system invites graft: private sector
The private sector yesterday urged the Industry Ministry to review the factory certification procedure, saying the complicated criteria were breeding grounds for graft.
The Federation of Thai Industries, the Board of Trade and the Thai Bankers Association will submit a formal letter to the ministry this week raising concerns over the matter.
FTI chairman Payungsak Chartsutipol said the ministry should review or abolish the steering committee that has full authority to grant a certificate to factories because it has led to corruption.
The steering committee, which was set up in February last year, has also delayed decisions on certifying many factories, as there are too many conditions and the process is time-consuming, he said. This has caused problems for businesses.
The panel has restricted the type of factories that would be considered for certification in seven categories, depending on their size, investment and effect on the environment.
Normally factories already need |to pass an environmental impact assessment if they want to start up operations. The steering committee has created a duplicate burden for them and delayed operations, Payungsak said.
