325 Thai firms hit by Japan disasters

Mrs Amporn said there are 767 companies in Thailand with major Japanese shareholders. These firms employ about 471,500 workers.

Of these, 325 have been affected by the disasters in Japan. They employ altogether 108,808 workers. Most of these firms produce and distribute automobile parts, electronic parts and food products.

These companies have begun cut backs, ranging from reducing overtime working hours, reducing productivity, and reducing working days. Some employers had opted to invoke Section 75 of the labour law by asking employees to stop working and receive only 75 per cent of their regular salary, said Mrs Amporn.

She believed the difficulties being faced by these firms would ease soon, and that none of them would need to lay off their employees. She said most firms want to keep skilled workers. At the same time, the Japanese government had already mapped out a clear plan for restoration in the country.

Mrs Amporn said that some food and farm produce processors in Chiang Mai and auto parts manufacturers in Chon Buri have actually benefited from the Japanese disasters as their parent companies in Japan had to halt their operations and ordered their subsidiaries in Thailand to increase productivity to compensate.

Some of those firms have increased working shifts from two to three. This is providing more work and more income for people in the area, said Mrs Amporn.