Department chief Padungsak Thephasdin na Ayutthaya said concerns the economy had slowed following the September coup and caused business closures and job losses was not reflected in labour statistics.

Social Security Office data shows 1,379 businesses closed in January this year with the loss of 16,449 jobs. Another 227 employers went out of business and 2,676 staff were put out of work in February, Padungsak said.

Last year 25,571 businesses closed either permanently or temporarily with the loss of 228,185 jobs. The previous year saw 30,385 businesses close, putting 243,270 out of work, he said. The average monthly retrenchment figure in 2006 was 18,500.

According to statistics, most company shutdowns and associated job losses occur in the very last or very first months of the year. So far this year the number of people being laid off was "small" and about half that of the corresponding period in 2006, he said. "This year's unemployment trend is similar to last year. Most agencies are predicting economic growth to be between 4 per cent and 4.5 per cent."

The Labour Ministry was preparing to tackle seasonal labour migration. It will establish a disaster victims' assistance centre to deal with worker retrenchment as a result of drought.

The ministry will try to keep unemployed labourers in their home areas where possible by offering vocational training and job placement.

Massive labour migration caused social problems, Padung-sak explained. If workers insist on relocating to new jobs the ministry and its departments would attempt to organise the flow of labour.

Employment Department staff will arrange for workers to fill positions available in other parts of the country. They will meet migrating workers at transport hubs where unscrupulous em-ployers often look for travelling workers to exploit.

The department will keep records of migrating women and young workers and monitor their treatment by employers.