Next year could be worse than 1997, Abhisit warns

"I would like to plead with workers to ensure orderly and peaceful protests in order to call attention to their grievances, otherwise they will unwittingly exacerbate economic woes by undermining business confidence," he said.

Abhisit was speaking after meeting with Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai to assess the economic turmoil.

Immediately after the policy debate on Monday, the government will unveil its economic revitalisation package, which includes measures to spur government spending and minimise impacts if people lose their jobs, he said.

He pledged that his government would devote full attention to help people keep their jobs and ease the plight of laidoff workers. He admitted, however, the economic forecast for next year was gloomier than the Asian financial crisis 10 years ago.

Thailand would have to brace for the global slowdown's impact on exports and tourism, two of the country's main engines of growth, he said.

He said his meeting with Chuan focused entirely on the economic situation. There was no discussion about politics, which he sees as having a lesser urgency than shoring up business confidence.