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"We're expanding the business and we are employing 2,500 workers more," he said. The company operates six plants: 2 each in Bangkok and Chaiyaphum and 1 each in Samut Prakan and Suphanburi. The Suphan Buri plant, which now hires 4,900 workers, is also seeking 200 skilled workers.

 He said that the company has been hit by the baht appreciation, but due to business adjustment, the company does not experience any financial problem. To reduce pressure from the strong baht, it has relied more on imported raw materials, a 15 per cent cut in labour cost, a further cut in industrial wastes from 1-2 per cent to 0.2 per cent, as well as the cut in raw material inventories.

 On Wednesday, Labour Permanent Secretary Chulathawat Intrasuksri was quoted as saying that he was informed of the likely closure of four factories in Suphan Buri which include Hi-Tech Apparel.

 "Our name could appear on newspapers because we recently joined a meeting with the provincial authorities. We have no problem. Indeed, we have told the province of our need for more skilled labour," Nipon said.

- The Nation