No guarantee that workers will be re-employed
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Flood-hit factory workers not only need immediate assistance from companies and the govt, but also assurances of work and retraining
The government has already announced a series of measures to assist corporations hit by the flooding disaster. It should now turn the focus towards the problem of labour. Hundreds of thousands have been left unemployed – either temporarily or permanently – as a result of the floods. The authorities have pledged they will urge factories and other workplaces to re-employ those workers who were laid of because of shutdowns, but in reality many of these workers still feel insecure about their prospects for re-employment. This is especially the case for unskilled and older workers, who believe that the chances of their employers calling them back are slim.
In a survey conducted from October 24 to November 7 by the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee, a majority of workers who had been employed in Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Samut Sakhon and Nakhon Pathom provinces were not certain the government’s assistance measures would assure jobs for them.
More than 200,000 workers in Ayutthaya province may not be eligible for assistance programmes because they were temporary workers who came from other provinces. This is also the case for workers in other provinces, because the government’s assistance programme focuses on people residing in the provinces first.
The concern of these workers reveals the downside of the Thai labour market. While high-skilled labourers are almost certain to be re-hired after their companies resume production operations, the future for low-skilled workers is uncertain.
Companies tend to take good care of skilled workers because of their abilities. Thus, these workers can often rely on their employers to take care of their welfare needs without having to rely on the government. Some skilled workers have even been transferred to other facilities overseas, including Japan.
But the prospects for low-skilled workers are dim. Some employers have simply shut down their plants or plan to replace these workers with machines. In other cases, companies can easily move to neighbouring countries, where the labour costs are cheaper.
The Thai Labour Solidarity Committee has called for the government to provide immediate assistance programmes including compensation money to help workers survive while their factories are still shut down because of the flooding.
This disaster should provide an opportunity for the government, employers and workers’ representatives to improve the labour market in a sustainable manner. Otherwise, low-skilled workers will always be vulnerable to job cuts, even after the flood water subsides.
Low-skilled workers don’t have the bargaining power to negotiate with employers to raise their wages, and thus have to desperately rely on the minimum wage. As a result, the minimum wage issue has at times been politicised. Still, these workers do not get the benefits that they should be entitled to.
In addition, retraining is essential, particularly to help older workers find new employment. Some factories may not be suitable for older workers or those with low skill levels. Therefore, the labour agencies should cooperate with employers to discuss how to assist these workers through retraining.
The Labour Ministry should now look into ways to help workers stay in the job market. But it has to be done in a sustainable manner, by providing them with new skills and counselling.
It is unfortunate that the minimum wage has so far dominated the discussion regarding the welfare of local workers. The minimum wage should not be the only factor in determining their worth; their skill and potential should be considered as well.
Workers should be able to negotiate with dignity. And they will enjoy stronger bargaining powers when they are equipped with skills and knowledge that employers cannot afford to lose.
This is the key challenge for Thai workers, and the Labour Ministry must seriously begin to address the issue to ensure sustainable employment opportunities for all Thai people.
