Thailand prepares for possible labour problems in AEC

BANGKOK, June 28 (TNA) - Thailand is preparing for labour problems, including a feared brain drain of professionals, after the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is formed over the next three years, as the Ministry of Labour has warned of, probably, outflows of foreign workers to their home countries. After opening a public forum in Bangkok today to discuss ways to boost regional competitiveness in skilled labour movements in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in which representatives from 10 ASEAN member countries and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) took part, Dr. Somkiart Chayasriwong, Permanent Secretary for Labour, acknowledged that each ASEAN member country is working out its own labour database and mutual recognition arrangement (MRA) to facilitate labour movements after the regional integration is materialized by 2015. Dr. Somkiart warned that labour shortages are then possible, as workers are likely to return to their home countries after the AEC is formed, suggesting that Thai business operators rely more on local workers whose potential is also enhanced; while learning English and the languages of neighbouring countries as well. According to the senior official, Thai labour authorities will meet next week to discuss the import of non-ASEAN foreign workers to cope with the expected labour shortages in the country after the AEC is established. Andrew Bruce, IOM Director for Asia and the Pacific, foresaw, meanwhile, that the AEC would lead to the massive movements of workers in the region, and that workers from neighbouring Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar would play important roles and actively migrate for jobs within the region, urging each ASEAN member country to prepare for coping with the feared brain drain problem and for having effective family planning policies to keep balance in accordance with its economic growth. (TNA)