News Forum - Economist: government’s lag on migrant labour hurting economy

[Thaiger]

The reopening of Thailand has finally kickstarted the economy and put people back to work, but many businesses are struggling with a shortage of migrant labour. While the government has been cracking down on immigrants crossing the border illegally looking for work, many sectors are complaining that the government was unprepared for the country’s reopening and didn’t make efforts to allow foreign migrant workers in. Businesses estimate a shortfall of 400,000 needed labourers for working in construction, tourism services, restaurants, food stalls, and other local businesses that are often supported by immigrant labour. These sectors are calling on the government […]

The story Economist: government’s lag on migrant labour hurting economy as seen on Thaiger News.

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[Pompies]

Just another example of how ignorant, recalcitrant and out of touch this government is. Time after time people who actually do the work that keeps this country going complain about government inaction but it is a dialogue with the deaf. There is not one cabinet member who can see past their perceived security threat from Covid and enact policies that will actually improve the economy. They have a fixation on this borne out of their utterly incompetent handling of the pandemic and have no concept of the ruination they are wreaking in the process. Nor do they care.

[palooka]

What about employing Thais first?

Predicting 15% unemployment with Thais but bend over backwards for the rich employers to get cheap migrant labour.

Plan to spend 100 million baht for a couple of hours partying in Phuket, try spending the money to get Thais back to work it would do more to improve the economy. 

 

[ThaiEyes]

58 minutes ago, palooka said:

What about employing Thais first?

Predicting 15% unemployment with Thais but bend over backwards for the rich employers to get cheap migrant labour.

Plan to spend 100 million baht for a couple of hours partying in Phuket, try spending the money to get Thais back to work it would do more to improve the economy. 

That’s what happens when you have a military junta for a government. When you are used to conscripting your loyal army to make you look good, you just don’t know what to do when that won’t work in a situation like this. The sad thing is that the armed forces here are feeling the pinch too. No submarines and other wizbang technology for a while. 

[farang]

thaieyes,very true!seems like they want the thai people totaly broke,and under control.they know with all the restrictions  put in place that most tourtist are not going to come back.so it equals to less cash being earned by the thai people. most countries are understanding they are going to have to work,open up and live with this  covid .you cant shut down the whole country forever.which is worse?die from covid or strave to death?chock dee to all.

[longwood50]

15 hours ago, Thaiger said:

businesses are struggling with a shortage of migrant labour

I guess I never understood how you can have millions of your own citizens either unemployed or underemployed and have the "need" for foreign laborers.   

What you are really saying is you can not find local workers desperate enough to work for the wages that the employers are willing to pay.  The locals find they can scrape by through selling products at the local markets or doing odd jobs that compensate them better than slave wages.   There is no shortage of workers.  Only a shortage of workers who are willing to toil all day for only a few baht per day. 

[Chaimai]

1 minute ago, longwood50 said:

I guess I never understood how you can have millions of your own citizens either unemployed or underemployed and have the "need" for foreign laborers.   

What you are really saying is you can not find local workers desperate enough to work for the wages that the employers are willing to pay.  The locals find they can scrape by through selling products at the local markets or doing odd jobs that compensate them better than slave wages.   There is no shortage of workers.  Only a shortage of workers who are willing to toil all day for only a few baht per day. 

 

 

I would have had the term "..too bone idle to work..." in there somewhere.

[longwood50]

4 minutes ago, Chaimai said:

I would have had the term "..too bone idle to work..." in there somewhere.

You could say that about virtually any country.  They use the same excuse in the USA that they are "jobs that USA citizens wont do"  No they won't do them for the wages the farmers, and slaughterhouses want to pay. 

The way it is suppose to work is that if you can not find sufficient labor at a given price you raise the price you are willing to pay until you fill your labor shortage.  That business may well have to raise the price of its product which will diminish demand for it, lessening the demand for labor. 

At higher prices, business looks to become more efficient through automation, or perhaps importing product from countries.  Bringing in indigent people to do menial jobs in the end only lowers the standard of living for the citizens of that country as wages are depressed and you have a larger percentage of those living in the country earning only subsistence wages. 

If you want the country to become more prosperous the government should embark on policies that bring in industries that have higher paying jobs, not bring in more people willing to work in unskilled jobs that live at subsistence wages. 

China has learned this lesson.  It is rapidly building its manufacturing base not more rice fields. 

 

[Chaimai]

5 hours ago, longwood50 said:

You could say that about virtually any country.  They use the same excuse in the USA that they are "jobs that USA citizens wont do"  No they won't do them for the wages the farmers, and slaughterhouses want to pay. 

The way it is suppose to work is that if you can not find sufficient labor at a given price you raise the price you are willing to pay until you fill your labor shortage.  That business may well have to raise the price of its product which will diminish demand for it, lessening the demand for labor. 

At higher prices, business looks to become more efficient through automation, or perhaps importing product from countries.  Bringing in indigent people to do menial jobs in the end only lowers the standard of living for the citizens of that country as wages are depressed and you have a larger percentage of those living in the country earning only subsistence wages. 

If you want the country to become more prosperous the government should embark on policies that bring in industries that have higher paying jobs, not bring in more people willing to work in unskilled jobs that live at subsistence wages. 

China has learned this lesson.  It is rapidly building its manufacturing base not more rice fields. 

 

 

 

 

.....and they say that the CCCP want to control the masses.....................

[longwood50]

2 hours ago, Chaimai said:

....and they say that the CCCP want to control the masses.....................

I have not a clue what you are trying to convey.  As stated, China is building its economy not with growing rice but rather investing in manufacturing, cars, airplanes, machinery, equipment, electronics, and pharmaceuticals.   

Anyone who thinks the road to economic greatness is through importing indigent workers for menial jobs because they will work for lower wages is delusional.