The government must take urgent action to tackle a migrant worker shortage that has compounded the economic strains brought about by elevated energy costs and put key sectors in jeopardy, a business body said on Friday.
Authorities should fast-track work permit renewals, particularly for Cambodian labour, to prevent workers from losing their legal status, thereby avoiding disruptions to the manufacturing and agriculture sectors during a critical time for the Thai economy, said Wiboon Suphakarnpongkul, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, speaking on behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking.
About 3.9 million migrant workers are in Thailand, but Cambodian numbers have plunged to around 194,000 from about 550,000, he told a briefing. Many Cambodian workers have returned home since a Thai-Cambodian border clash last year.
Cambodian workers are crucial for fruit harvesting in eastern Thailand, which begins in late April and lasts about five months, but many of their permits have expired or are close to expiry as renewals stall over security concerns, he told a briefing.
The eastern fruit industry is valued at around 200 billion baht a year, with labour shortages risking lower quality and missed harvest windows, Mr Wiboon said.
A labour crunch could also disrupt rice export logistics, he said.
The private sector is proposing short-term permit extensions of three to six months for Cambodian workers, alongside longer-term plans to widen labour supply through new agreements with countries such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Indonesia, he said.
