20,000 job vacancies

A huge number of job vacancies in automotive and electronics productions are immediately needed to be filled, a seminar on unemployment was told yesterday.

There are around 20,000 positions in urgent needs in both sectors, said Labour Minister Phaitoon Kaewthong. These highskilled positions have been left vacant by series of huge layoffs since the global economic slump starting midyear, and few people who are qualified for these positions have chosen to seek alternative jobs, with financial assistance subsidised by the government, he explained.

Assurances for equally stable jobs and other incentives are needed to encourage them to reenter their careers, Phaitoon said. These positions, which offer an average salary range of Bt10,000 Bt11,000, are based in industrial estates in Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan and Chachoengsao.