[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
EMPLOYMENT
Note: This is the budget of Thailand from which the SPDC should take lessons.
=========
June 10, 1998
EMPLOYMENT
Chuan says over 2
million jobless
estimate
inaccurate
Seasonal variations not taken into
account
Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai yesterday dismissed as
inaccurate an earlier estimate that the number of unemployed this
year would pass the two million mark.
He said half of the estimated two million jobless were seasonal
unemployed in the agricultural sector. Some 200,000 plus had
been laid off as a result of the economic crisis.
Apparently, his biggest concern is the impact new graduates and
others joining the job market will have on the figures. A total of
490,000 are set to enter the labour market this year.
Both the National Statistical Office and the Ministry of Labour
and Social Welfare have presented conflicting figures on the
number of unemployed. The office says there are 2.8 million, and
the ministry 2.06 million.
Mr Chuan said the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare had
asked for more money to hire graduates at 5,000 baht a month
to work in Tambon Administration Organisation offices across
the country. He said this would allow new graduates to live and
learn.
The cabinet yesterday approved allocations of the 30 billion baht
social fund as follows: 13.2 billion baht for job creation and
income increase; 5.25 billion baht for education; 3 billion baht for
health service; 5.65 billion baht for social service and 2.77 billion
baht to cushion impacts from currency fluctuation.
The cabinet also approved a budget of 825 billion baht for fiscal
1999, with the Education Ministry getting the lion's share of
151.6 billion baht - 18.4 percent.
The budget bill is due to be debated in parliament on June 24
and if approved will become effective on September 11.
Deputy Finance Minister Pichit Phanvichartkul said officials were
confident that the 800 billion baht revenue target would be met.
He said the Revenue Department had collected several billion
baht more in taxes than had been estimated while the Excise
Department was within targets. The Customs Department had,
however, collected less than expected over the past several
months.
Budget allocations are as follows: Central fund, 78 billion baht -
9.5 percent; PM's Office Ministry, 7.1 billion baht 0.9 percent;
Defence Ministry, 77.4 billion baht - 9.4 percent; Finance
Ministry, 74.8 billion baht - 9.1 percent; Foreign Ministry, 4.1
billion baht - 0.5 percent; Agriculture Ministry, 64.8 billion baht -
7.9 percent; Transport and Communications, 59.0 billion baht or
7.2 percent; Commerce, 4.0 billion - 0.5 percent; Interior, 131.3
billion - 15.9 percent; Labour, 11.1 billion - 1.3 percent; Justice,
5.0 billion - 0.6 percent; Science, 11.4 billion - 1.4 percent;
Public Health, 56.6 billion - 6.9 percent; Industry, 3.8 billion -
0.5 percent; University Affairs, 35.0 billion - 4.2 percent;
Independent Government Agencies, 4.4 billion - 0.5 percent;
State Enterprises, 22.7 billion - 2.8 percent; and the Revolving
Fund, 22.1 billion - 2.7 percent.
© The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. All rights reserved 1998
Contact the Bangkok Post
Web Comments: Webmaster
Last Modified: Wed, Jun 10, 1998