Migrant workers’ exodus affects production

BANGKOK, July 5 (TNA) -- The Department of Industrial Works admitted that migrant workers’ exodus due to a new labor executive decree was slowing down labor-intensive factories. Mongkol Phruekwathana, director-general of the department, said production was declining at labor-intensive plants as migrant workers were leaving the country due to the new executive decree on the employment of alien workers. Affected are fishing and shoe factories that depend on migrant workers. Aware of the negative impact, the government already decided to delay the imposition of the decree until the end of this year so that illegal migrant workers could arrange for their legal status and return. The problem of labor shortage would be finally solved, he said. The National Council for Peace and Order decided to postpone the enforcement of four sections in the executive decree on foreign labour. The sections concern punishment on workers and employers involved in illegal employment and work. Mr Mongkol said he believed that the postponement would cushion impacts on affected factories. (TNA)