BKK POST: January 18, 1998: LABOUR (r)

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

January 18, 1998
LABOUR

              Bosses back
              repatriation of
              alien staff

              More than 50% of employers of aliens agree with the
              government's policy to repatriate illegal foreign workers,
              according to the Suan Dusit poll.

              The Interior Ministry wants to repatriate as many as 300,000
              illegal aliens in six months.

              The poll was conducted on 538 employers in the industrial
              sector and general service in Bangkok and neighbouring
              provinces from January 2-15.

              The poll showed 55.58% supported the repatriation plan, saying
              foreign workers could be replaced by Thais to help ease the
              country's unemployment problem.

              But 30.30% disagreed citing various reasons, including the need
              to train their replacements, higher labour costs and other adverse
              effects on their business operations.

              Cheap wages were cited by 57.07% as their main reason for
              hiring aliens, while 29.32% liked their obedience, 8.51% their
              tendency to stick to their jobs, and 3.53% said they lived
              modestly and were not trouble-makers.

              After replacing foreign workers by Thais, 43.49% expected an
              increase in their labour costs; 33.93% a rise in labour dispute,
              11.23% interruptions in their production, and 5.34% problems
              arising from dishonesty and dereliction of duty.

              The respondents also made a few suggestions to the Labour and
              Social Welfare Ministry.

              The government should have a timeframe for the repatriation of
              alien workers that would enable employers to cope with resulting
              changes, said 38.68% of them.

              Meanwhile 37.06% urged a review of the minimum wage rate to
              make it more realistic in the current situation, 18.48% wanted full
              freedom to select new employees, and 3.65% called for financial
              support from the government if they had to get rid of their foreign
              labour.