The President of the Federation of Thai Industries for Prachuap Khiri Khan Province has called on the government to resolve the crisis with pineapple factories suffering from a shortage of foreign workers.
He says the industry needs 60 percent more workers after nearly two years of the COVID-19 epidemic, with most of the neighboring country workers returning home. and unable to return to work legally.
Mr. Wirat Piyapornpaibul, says that the clusters of Covid outbreaks have been controlled in four affected canned fruit processing plants.
Mr. Wirat said that problems from the outbreak of Covid 19 has significantly affected the production of pineapples for export. He has urged the government to urgently resolve the shortage of foreign workers in the processing industry as the currently reduced production capacity due a a worker shortage has a direct impact on farmers.
He urged the government to solve the problem of labor shortage urgently to stimulate export sales of canned pineapple products. The international market has a very high demand for these products.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed the Labour Ministry to speed up efforts to resolve the issues migrant worker shortages which is a nationwide problem.
The Labour Ministry is now discussing proposals submitted by business operators and non-governmental organisations on labour provision, said Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin.
The Interior Ministry has also issued a ministerial announcement allowing certain groups of migrant workers already in Thailand to register to stay on and work legally. The Department of Employment will discuss the issue with other state agencies, including the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Public Health Ministry and the Royal Thai Police.
