Thai Filipino

The industry minister urges the Board of Investment to speak with private investors regarding bringing migrant workers into Thailand, and has instructed the investment board to reconsider requests for each individual operators.

Industry Minister Chaiyawut Bannawat said he has instructed the Board of Investment, or BOI, to discuss with private investors the need to import migrant workers as part of a solution to labor shortages, so that the BOI board can reconsider the issue for each individual operator.

Earlier, the BOI board rejected a proposal suggesting that migrant laborers be brought into Thailand because of concerns that it might cause social issues.

The BOI Secretary-General, Atchaka Sibunruang said her agency will look into whether the labor importation is really necessary, adding that some conditions must be set so that it does not contradict with the BOI's policies regarding investment incentives.

Meanwhile, she expects the government to resolve the ongoing dispute at the Map Ta Phut industrial estate, which has been crippling investments in the country's eastern industrial hub, as fast as possible.

Atchaka added that the government must be clear about possible locations for heavy industry investment, such as petrochemical manufacturing, over the next few years, in case they are unable to push ahead with the Southern Seaboard development plans.

The BOI's secretary-general went on to say that, given the rising environmental and social concerns, her agency will be holding a meeting on August 6th, to discuss strategies for promoting businesses capable of giving added value to their products and services.

She added that the BOI is also looking to expand incentives for biotechnological research and the service sector.

Source: http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewD … ID=1032668