EMPLOYMENT

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Note: This is the budget of Thailand from which the SPDC should take lessons.


=========
June 10, 1998


                                     



                               EMPLOYMENT

              Chuan says over 2
              million jobless
              estimate
              inaccurate

              Seasonal variations not taken into
              account

              Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai yesterday dismissed as
              inaccurate an earlier estimate that the number of unemployed this
              year would pass the two million mark.

              He said half of the estimated two million jobless were seasonal
              unemployed in the agricultural sector. Some 200,000 plus had
              been laid off as a result of the economic crisis.

              Apparently, his biggest concern is the impact new graduates and
              others joining the job market will have on the figures. A total of
              490,000 are set to enter the labour market this year.

              Both the National Statistical Office and the Ministry of Labour
              and Social Welfare have presented conflicting figures on the
              number of unemployed. The office says there are 2.8 million, and
              the ministry 2.06 million.

              Mr Chuan said the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare had
              asked for more money to hire graduates at 5,000 baht a month
              to work in Tambon Administration Organisation offices across
              the country. He said this would allow new graduates to live and
              learn. 

              The cabinet yesterday approved allocations of the 30 billion baht
              social fund as follows: 13.2 billion baht for job creation and
              income increase; 5.25 billion baht for education; 3 billion baht for
              health service; 5.65 billion baht for social service and 2.77 billion
              baht to cushion impacts from currency fluctuation.

              The cabinet also approved a budget of 825 billion baht for fiscal
              1999, with the Education Ministry getting the lion's share of
              151.6 billion baht - 18.4 percent.

              The budget bill is due to be debated in parliament on June 24
              and if approved will become effective on September 11.

              Deputy Finance Minister Pichit Phanvichartkul said officials were
              confident that the 800 billion baht revenue target would be met.

              He said the Revenue Department had collected several billion
              baht more in taxes than had been estimated while the Excise
              Department was within targets. The Customs Department had,
              however, collected less than expected over the past several
              months.

              Budget allocations are as follows: Central fund, 78 billion baht -
              9.5 percent; PM's Office Ministry, 7.1 billion baht 0.9 percent;
              Defence Ministry, 77.4 billion baht - 9.4 percent; Finance
              Ministry, 74.8 billion baht - 9.1 percent; Foreign Ministry, 4.1
              billion baht - 0.5 percent; Agriculture Ministry, 64.8 billion baht -
              7.9 percent; Transport and Communications, 59.0 billion baht or
              7.2 percent; Commerce, 4.0 billion - 0.5 percent; Interior, 131.3
              billion - 15.9 percent; Labour, 11.1 billion - 1.3 percent; Justice,
              5.0 billion - 0.6 percent; Science, 11.4 billion - 1.4 percent;
              Public Health, 56.6 billion - 6.9 percent; Industry, 3.8 billion -
              0.5 percent; University Affairs, 35.0 billion - 4.2 percent;
              Independent Government Agencies, 4.4 billion - 0.5 percent;
              State Enterprises, 22.7 billion - 2.8 percent; and the Revolving
              Fund, 22.1 billion - 2.7 percent.




                                     




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