Economic crisis hurts another 650 workers

 In October, at the plant which formerly employed 1,700 workers, about 400 were laid off and next week another 350 would lose their jobs.

 Workers said orders for electronics and auto parts have dropped more than 50 per cent since October. Moreover, the company merge the Suranaree plant with another one in Muang district.

 Kwanruan Padklang, a victim of the layoff, said she has prepared herself for this but did not expect it to come so soon. Though all affected workers receive full compensations, she preferred to maintain employment status. With two children, the single mother who received about Bt20,000 in compensations will need to save before getting a new job.

 Since October 2008, about 6 plants in Nakhon Ratchasima have laid off over 3,000 workers. Prior to that, about 20,000 were unemployed.

 Meanwhile, Labour Ministry's Employment Department Director-General Phichai Ekphithakdamrong announced on Thursday that Thailand would not extend the employment to over 500,000 Burmese workers in Thailand who illegally sneaked into the Kingdom, saying that it is the priority to take care of Thai workers.

 "Employers need to give a chance to Thai workers first, due to the economic crisis," he said.