1,003 factories have been shut down between 1 Jan and 7 May, putting 84,876 workers out work. Many more factories and workers are likely to meet the same fate, according to the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare.
The electronics sector tops the list with the layoff of 20,923 workers from 110 factories, followed by the textile and leather sector with 15,709 workers from 114 factories, the automobile and transport sector with 12,784 workers from 81 factories, the machine manufacturing sector with 9,007 workers from 48 factories, and the furniture manufacturing sector with 7,355 workers from 81 factories.
Reasons for the layoffs include losses, illiquidity, reduced orders, expiry of contracts or cancellation of concessions, and loss of competitiveness in the export market due to the appreciation of the baht.
184,250 more workers in 429 factories are likely to be affected, with 61,319 at high risk of being dismissed and 122,931 receiving lower bonuses.
Most of these factories manufacture products for export.
On 16 July, 160 workers filed complaints with Songkhla Labour Court against Thai International Food Co which dismissed them from work and refused to pay compensation.
And on the same day in Chainat, 241 workers protested inside the Safe-T-Cut factory after they had been dismissed without compensation as of July 2. The employer asked the protesters to allow entry to the factory, and to leave the premises, but the protesters persisted and a clash nearly occurred. The protest ended after more than 30 police were called in.
Source
<p>http://www.prachatai.com/journal/2009/07/25096</p>
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