Jobs lost to floods will not exceed 50,000

The 25,994 workers were laid off by 91 businesses in nine provinces, including Bangkok and heaviest-hit Ayutthaya, director-general Arthit Issamo said. His department estimates that no more than 50,000 workers would be laid off as a result of the floods, and has recommended they be offered help in the form of jobs fairs and social security.

The number of flood-hit businesses that have so far failed to reopen totals 1,333, leaving 232,019 workers without pay, or receiving reduced pay, while 761,925 workers have returned to work with the 27,3456 businesses that have reopened.

Some 1,170 businesses are registered under a government-subsidised scheme that guarantees they will not lay off workers. A further 652 businesses come under the "Friends Help Friends" scheme, in which 13,251 flood-affected workers have been hired by other employers.

In Ayutthaya, 12,000 flood-affected workers have registered for SSO unemployment benefit, representing about 3 per cent of the overall number of workers in the hardest-hit province, said Pranee Chaidej, head of the provincial labour office. She dismissed reports that local employers have failed to meet legal obligations to pay compensation to laid-off workers.

Two jobs fairs would be held, on Friday and Sunday, at Ayutthaya Park mall, she added.