Housands attend bangkok job fair at which 10,000 positions are on offer

A large number of job seekers attend a job fair held at Siam Paragon yesterday. The two-day fair, orgainsed by Labour Ministry's Department of Employment, ends today. /Anant Chantarasut

"A lot of people have registered to apply for jobs at this event, reflecting the rising unemployment rate. In February alone, up to 100,000 people lost their jobs, while another 30,000 jobs have gone this month," Labour Minister Phaithoon Kaeothong said.

About 150 companies have joined the twoday governmentsponsored job bazaar at Bangkok's Siam Paragon shopping centre, where online information on another 100,000 jobs nationwide is also available for job seekers.

Besides permanent hiring, there are more than 30 exam¬ples of selfemployed work, such as making photo frames and artificial flowers from banknotes.

In addition, the fair lets participants test their English proficiency and employment readiness.

Advisers are also on hand to provide information on training and labour rights.

Under the government's "tonkla archeep" ("occupation sprouts") scheme, participants can attend various courses on occupational training.

Given that the economic prospects are not good, Phaithoon advised that no workers should quit their current employment now.

"That would worsen the employment situation. We're working hard to get a more specific number on unemployment so that we can help put Thais into some of the jobs currently held by illegal foreign workers," he added.

Chatchayakorn Nimcharoen, a 22yearold new graduate from Assumption University, said she hopes to get a job at the fair.

"I applied for a secretarial position and did an interview with the potential employer. I think there is an 80percent probability that I'll be hired," Chatchayakorn said.

Natrumon Macharoen, 30, a job seeker, said she had been unemployed for about one year so she is interested in more job opportunities.

"I'm not sure if I will be hired, as I think I'm too old for some jobs," said Natrumon.

The majority of visitors at the fair are unemployed due to the current economic downturn plus people who have just graduated from college and university.

There were long queues as visitors filled in their applica¬tion form for prospective employers who have set up booths at the fair.

In addition, many older and senior citizens attended the fair to get occupational training for freelance and selfemployed work.

"There are more visitors than we anticipated," said Pichai Ekpitakdamrong, directorgeneral of the Labour Ministry's Employment Department.