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September 02, 2010

Bridging the gap between Thai universities and business world by matching human resources

By Jon Fernquest

robot competitionIdeally business networking would match business people with scientists and researchers in universities.

Relationships between these two groups of people do not develop automatically.

That's why the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) of Thailand's government is sponsoring a special event to help develop these relationships.

Business plan competitions are another useful event that bridges the gap between universities and the business world (Read previous articles on competitions in Thailand #1 and #2 also see archives).

Photo on right of  King Mongkut University of Technology winners of 2010 World RoboCup competition in Singapore. Technology competitions such as this are another important kind of event bridging the divide between university and the business world.

Research collaboration between Thai and foreign universities also help (Read on 
science collaboration with Australian universities). 

Engineering joint ventures between Thai and foreign companies also provide invaluable learning experiences to Thai engineers (Read on Thai-Chinese high speed train project).

Today's article begins after the vocabulary below.

business networking - when business people meet and get to know each other (See Wikipedia)
relationship - when two or more people or organizations have a close involvement and interactions with each other (examples: business relationship, romantic relationship)
automatically - without people doing anything
National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) - the Thai government agency driving rapid science and technology development (See description)
business plan - "a formal statement of a set of business goals, the reasons why they are believed attainable, and the plan for reaching those goals. It may also contain background information about the organization or team attempting to reach those goals" (See Wikipedia)
business plan competition - an event in which many students present their business ideas and plans, judges decide which are the ones most likely to succeed, most business schools have such a competition (See video on how to win)
bridges the gap - connects two things that are not connected (starts communication and relationship building)
2010 World RoboCup competition - a recent competition in Singapore in which students compete to build the best robot (See website)  
human resources - people with the knowledge and skills they possess, put to use by organizations and companies when they are hired as employees (See Wikipedia)
collaboration - working with other others to produce things and achieve goals
joint ventures - a company owned and operated by two or more other companies

BUSINESS NETWORKING

Matching fair due next month

31/08/2010
Yuthana Praiwan

Thailand's first event matching business operators, scientists and researchers will take place next month

The expo is being organised by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), which has invited more than 300 business operators from the industrial and service sectors to exhibit their research projects.

expo - an event with large numbers of people coming to view things being shown (new products, technology, art, information about a country)
due - expected to happen or should happen มีกำหนด
operators - companies running a certain kind of business
exhibit - show something publicly, so people can learn about it

The NSTDA will have more than 25 projects on hand at NSTDA Investors' Day, to be held on Sept 16 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok.

The NSTDA has been providing services to business operators for the past four years, particularly small and medium-sized entrepreneurs.

The policy is in line with government plans to enhance the country's economic competitiveness.

on hand - have, exist, are present at a place
Queen Sirikit National Convention Center - a large building used for events, conferences and fairs, located in dowentown Bangkok, connected to the rest of the city by subway, opened in 1991 (See Wikipedia)
entrepreneurs - business people เจ้าของกิจการ
policy - a set of plans or action agreed on by a government, political party, business, or other group to guide decisions and achieve outcomes นโยบาย (See Wikipedia)
in line with - agreeing with, following
enhance - to improve the quality, amount or strength of something ทำให้ดีเพิ่มขึ้น, ทำให้ดีขึ้น
competitiveness - how well a business can do compared to other firms (does it have lower price or higher quality?) การแข่งขัน

NSTDA president Thaweesak Koanantakool said five projects that will be highlighted at the fair are a silk-strengthening substance, a kit to test for drug allergies in dogs, high efficiency methods for marine life breeding, a new lightweight concrete made from artificial materials and a simulation programme for the analysis of orthodontic models.

This event will match business operators, researchers and scientists in a bid to find business solutions," said Dr Thaweesak.

highlighted - emphasized; stressed; made more noticeable ที่เน้นย้ำ
substance - some kind of solid, gas or liquid (example: wood is a solid substance and water is a liquid substance)
allergy - a medical condition when a person is oversensitive and reacts negatively to some substance in the food, in the air or from some other contact (See Wikipedia)
drug allergies - when a patient has a negative allergic reaction to some drug (See Wikipedia)
efficiency - waste little time, energy and resources in doing a task (minimize time, energy and resources in performing a task) (See glossary) การทำงานอย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ คุ้มค่าเวลาและใช้พลังงานหรือต้นทุนในการผลิตน้อย เพื่อให้ได้ผลผลิตมาก
marine - relating to the sea and creatures that live in it เกี่ยวกับทะเล
breeding - the keeping of animals or plants in order to produce young animals from them การผสมพันธุ์สัตว์เพื่อขยายพันธุ์
concrete -
artificial - not natural, made by humans จำลอง ที่มนุษย์สร้างขึ้น ที่ประดิษฐ์ขึ้น
simulation - imitation of a real thing or situation, an artificial copy but with lifelike features (See Wikipedia)
orthodontistry 
(noun) - dental treatment to put teeth into correct position so that they look better (cosmetic) and there is no "improper bite" (malocclusion) (See Wikipedia)
orthodontic (adjective)
models - a system, a simple description of how a system works (to help you understand it) 
match - to look the same as or very similar to something else ซึ่งไม่คู่ควร
bid - an attempt to do something ความพยายาม

Discussions regarding investments or licencing patents or joint ventures with the NSTDA or a venture capital fund will be discussed under the mechanism of the Technology Licensing Office.

The agency has previously sought potential investors through business model contests organised by state universities but has found it difficult to find appropriate candidates.

licensed (adjective) - have official permission from government or a business to do some activity or use something that they control
license (noun) - official permission (See Wikipedia)
patent - legal rights to use an invention and to prevent the invention from being used by others, details of invention must be revealed to government patent office (See Wikipedia)
licencing patents - pay owner of patent to use the idea and technology in the patent 
technology licensing - when a company pays another company to use its technology
Technology Licensing Office - the office at a university or government in charge of selling technology developed within the university or country
joint - done with someone else ร่วมกัน
venture - a new business which involves risk or uncertainty ธุริกิจเสี่ยงแต่สามารถทำกำไรได้
joint ventures - a company owned and operated by two or more other companies
capital - money invested in a business (See glossary)
venture capital - private equity capital provided by professional outside investors to new, growth businesses. Cash is exchanged for shares in a usually high risk company with above-average returns (See Wikipedia)
fund - to provide money for something เงินทุน กองทุน, ให้เงินทุน
potential - possible ความเป็นไปได้
potential investors - possible investors
business model contests - see "business plan competition" above
state - government รัฐ
state universities - universities owned and operated by governments
appropriate -
suitable, right for a certain situation or purpose
candidates
- one of several people competing to be selected for some special position (job, elected government official, etc)

Last year, the NSTDA was able to establish only two joint venture projects, with Anglo Thai Ceramic Co and Micro Innovate Co, on which it spent 200 million baht for equity investment.

Next year, we plan to join with the Stock Exchange of Thailand to set up a venture capital fund and expand solutions for business operators, as Thailand is becoming more of a high-tech-based economy," said Dr Thaweesak.

establish - to start a company or organization that will likely continue for a long time สถาปนา, ก่อตั้ง, จัดตั้ง
equity - money for a business that comes from owners, not borrowed money (debt) เงินลงทุน ที่มาจากการระดมหุ้นของหุ้นส่วน และผู้มีกรรมสิทธิ
investment - taking your money and putting it into projects to make a profit or earn interest (buying stock shares, bonds, real estate)
expand - to become larger ขายตัวออกไป

(Source: BUSINESS NETWORKING, Matching fair due next month, 31/08/2010, Yuthana Praiwan, link


August 30, 2010

Community Based Tourism (CBT) and the role of small local businesses in Thailand's tourism industry

By Jon Fernquest

guesthouseSmall family businesses seem to be much more common in Thailand's tourism industry than they are in other countries.

Recently, I had the chance to wander around downtown Cebu (the second largest city in the Philippines) looking for a place to stay for a few days. 

I only found one place that resembled the typical Thai "guesthouse" that offers cheap rooms and food.   

Small family-run guesthouses, restaurants and bars are common in even the most remote corners of Thailand, catering to the needs of both foreign and Thai tourists staying in Thailand for a couple of weeks (or even months and years).

It is then perhaps fitting that Thai NGOs are at the forefront of extending and developing this idea through the idea of community-based tourism (CBT).

The Community Based Tourism Institute (CBT-I) is a Thai NGO working hard to promote this idea.

Today's article is an extract from a recent article by Bangkok Post columnist Imtiaz Muqbil reporting on a recent Community Based Tourism conference.

Photo on right of guesthouse on Maesai river in Chiang Rai located next to the border with Burma. During Songkran festivities (Thai New Years or Water Festival) this stretch of river is teeming with people gathering sand to build a sand pagoda at the nearby monastery. Don't travel upriver on a rubber intertube though or you will get bit by mosquitoes and come down with malaria like I did several years ago. 

family businesses - a business largely owned and operated by the members of one family (See Wikipedia)
remote corners of X - places far away from the center, from the place where most people live
catering to the needs of Y - giving the group of people Y what they need 
fitting - what fits or is the right thing to do in a certain situation
at the forefront of Z - among the most advanced people or organizations doing activity Z
Community-Based Tourism (CBT) - tourism in local areas, managed by the local people themselves, for the benefit of the local people rather than large corporations located far away (See manual and Wikipedia)
Community Based Tourism Institute (CBT-I) - a Thai NGO devoted to promoting community-based tourism in Thailand (See website)
Songkran - "celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to 15 April. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South and Southeast Asia" (See Wikipedia)
festivities -
a large and happy event, a celebration
teeming -
containing a large number of things (people, animals, objects) all moving around
come down with - get sick with some disease

Tourism

Community tourism's new face

23/08/2010
Imtiaz Muqbil

About 120 delegates involved in community-based tourism (CBT) projects in Thailand and Asia met last week in Bangkok to swap best practices to help them uphold the fundamental objectives of their grassroots ventures and prevent them from becoming victims of their own growing popularity.

About 80 villages nationwide participating in CBT attended the meeting at which they sought to learn from each other how to attract more visitors without damaging the environment or causing other social or cultural problems that would eventually make the exercise self-defeating.

community - the people living in one particular area ชุมชน
Community-Based Tourism (CBT) - tourism in local areas, managed by the local people themselves, for the benefit of the local people rather than large corporations located far away (See manual and Wikipedia)
swap - giving something to another person who, in turn, gives you something, exchange 
practices - ways of doing commonly repeated tasks
best practices - the best ways of doing commonly repeated tasks
uphold - to show that you support something such as an idea by what you say or do สนับสนุน รับรอง พิทักษ์รักษา ยืนหนัด
fundamental - very important and essential พื้นฐาน รากฐานที่สำคัญ
objectives - goals; aims; things that you plan to achieve จุดมุ่งหมาย
grassroots - involving the ordinary people rather than their leaders ในระดับรากหญ้า, ชาวบ้าน
venture - a new business or activity
victims - people who are killed injured or harmed in some way from an accident, natural disaster, crime, etc.
victims of their own growing popularity - people who become popular but fail to use to benefit from the opportunity 
nationwide - including the whole country ทั่วประเทศ
meeting - when a group of people come together to discuss issues and make decisions การประชุม
attract - to cause someone to be interested in something ดึงดูดความสนใจ
environment - the natural world of land, sea, plants, and animals
eventually - at the end of a period of time or at the end of a process ในที่สุด
exercise - activity with a result or purpose behind it
self-defeating - in trying to solve a problem, creating more problems (which means you can't solve the original problem) 

Organised by the Community Based Tourism Institute (CBT-I), located in Chiang Mai, the meeting was supported by the Thailand Research Fund in an effort to show how far CBT is contributing toward sustainable development. The European Union has also funded the CBT promotion effort at various stages.

Although Thai villages have been catering to brief stops by visitors for more than 15 years, some have gone a step further by expanding into home-stays and other opportunities for small numbers of tourists to stay overnight, and also join local people in some daily activities.

Community Based Tourism Institute (CBT-I) - a Thai NGO devoted to promoting community-based tourism in Thailand (See website)
Thailand Research Fund (TRF) - an organization promoting research in Thailand (See website)
effort - an attempt to do something ความพยายาม
sustainable - able to be successfully continued for a long time ยั่งยืน, ถาวร
development - the gradual growth and formation of a country's economy
funded - given money to บริจาค
funded - money provided for operation of a business or organisation ให้ความช่วยเหลือทางการเงิน ให้เงินลงทุน
promotion - giving an employee a higher position or job than they already have
effort - activities of people working together to achieve a goal
stage - one point in time during a process or series of events
catering - the job or organising the food and drinks for an event such as a party or meeting การจัดเลี้ยง (See Wikipedia)
gone a step further - did something new (that went beyond the original idea)
home-stay - a form of tourism that allows the visitor to rent a room from a local family to better learn the local lifestyle as well as improve their language ability (See Wikipedia)
opportunities - situations in which it is possible to do what you want or need to do
local - in or related to the area that you live, or to the particular area that you are talking about ท้องถิ่น

This has tapped into the growing demand by well-travelled visitors worldwide for a "learning experience" from their trips. Proponents say it is in line with national poverty-alleviation goals and gives villagers a reason to uphold their cultures. It also distributes income to the rural areas and helps residents preserve the local environment.

While no definitive numbers are available on total visitors to all the CBT projects nationwide, a study presented by Prof Pariwat Somnuek of Ubon Ratchathani University showed that the village of Baan Phu received 5,850 Thai and 23 foreign visitors in 2008, generating total income of 1.85 million baht. In 2009, the figures fell to 5,133 Thai and 20 foreign visitors, generating 1.56 million baht.

tapped - used
demand - people or consumers wanting to buy goods and services ความต้องการ
learning experience - when you learn things during some activity
proponent - a public supporter of an idea, policy or plan
in line with - following, agreeing with
poverty - the condition of being extremely poor ความจน
alleviation - reducing the suffering and negative effects of something bad
national poverty alleviation - making poverty in a country less severe, reducing the negative effects 
uphold - to support and help something by what you say and do
uphold their cultures - to support and help a culture to grow strong and survive by what you say and do 
reason - an explanation of an event, why an event happened เหตุ ; เหตุผล ; สาเหตุ
income - money that people receive from work or some other source, used for household consumption and savings
rural - connected with the countryside outside big towns and cities ในชนบท, บ้านนอก
residents - people who live in a particular place or area ชาวบ้านในบริเวณ ผู้อาศัยในบริเวณ ราษฎรในบริเวณนั้น
preserve - to keep something as it is, especially in order to prevent it from being damaged or destroyed ทำให้คงอยู่, สงวน อนุรักษ์
definitive - better than all the others
figures - statistics, numbers describing the economy  

German consultant Nicole Hausler, who specialises in responsible tourism issues, notes that two other issues are the income distribution within the CBT villages themselves as well as "organisation culture versus community culture."

She cited the results of a 2005 study by the Social Research Institute of Chiang Mai University of Plai Pong Pang Village in Samut Songkhram, which showed that the manager of the village's tourism management centre was the son of the project chairman.

The study found that four owners of the Thai traditional houses were all related. Income distribution was unequal with a small number of participating members getting the bigger share. The richest household got 76% of the total income. More than 80% of the villagers did not participate in the tourism project and did not benefit from it," she quoted the study as saying.

Imtiaz Muqbil is executive editor of Travel Impact Newswire, an e-mailed feature and analysis service focusing on the Asia-Pacific travel industry.

issues - an important subect that people are discussing and debating about  ประเด็น
income distribution - the way that money (wealth, income) is spread throughout a society 
cited - mentioned (to support a point you are making or arguing) กล่าวถึง
results - what is produced in the end by an activity or task
Social Research Institute (SRI) - an institute devoted to research at Chiang Mai University 
traditional - things (clothes, music, customs, etc.) that have been part of a country or society for a long time
share - the smaller part received by one person when some big thing is divided up
household - a group of people, often a family, who live together ครัวเรือน
participate - to take part in or become involved in an activity มีส่วน
benefit - to get help or an advantage from something ผลประโยชน์

(Source: Bangkok Post, Community tourism's new face, 23/08/2010, Imtiaz Muqbil, link


August 26, 2010

Global rice prices rising, time to offload Thai government stockpiles?

By Jon Fernquest

rice bagsRice prices have risen recently due to supply-side climate factors.

In 2008 global commodity prices rose to very high levels before the global recession shot them down (Read article and archives).

Experts predicted that they would rise once again and stay high (Read article).

Government rice stockpiles shot up to the point where there were not enough warehouses to store the rice.

With rice prices rising again, the ideal time for Thailand to offload its stockpiled  rice on global markets may have arrived. 

Today's article begins after the vocabulary below.

Photo on right shows rice sacks purchased by the government stacked high in a warehouse waiting for prices to rise so the government does not lose money. 

supply-side - in markets where goods are bought and sold, the side where the supply of goods comes from
climate - the general weather conditions usually found in a particular place สภาพอากาศ
factors - the different things that affect the outcome of a situation, event, or decision ปัจจัย
global - throughout the world ทั่วโลก
commodity - some basic good (food, fuel) sold in units of weight or quantity (kilos, liters) every unit being the same (if you buy one more kilo of rice that kilo is the same as the last kilo you bought) 
stockpiles - large amounts of something stored for future use
shot up
- increase very quickly (like a rocket "shot" into the sky)
warehouse - a large building that a business uses to store goods in (see photo of rice warehouse on the right, also see Wikipedia)
sacks - a large and strong bag for caryying things (examples: sack of cement, sack of rice)
stacked -
a pile of things, placed one on top of another

Marketing
AGRICULTURE

Rice prices pick up as demand improves

23/08/2010
Phusadee Arunmas

Rice prices are expected to rise by 6% to 7% this month or early next amid a resumption in foreign demand ahead of year-end festivals and lower supply due to climate change.

Foreign purchase orders have already resumed, and a flood of orders is anticipated next month to serve the many year-end festivals, said Sumeth Laomoraphorn, the chief operating officer of CP Intertrade.

More purchase orders from African markets are also likely after Ramadan

pick up - get better, go faster (here: prices increase)
demand - the need and desire to buy goods and services by households and businesses
expected - believe will happen คาดว่า (จะเกิดขึ้น)
X amid Y - X happened while Y was happening
resumption - to start or begin again เริ่มใหม่
climate change - long-term negative changes in weather patterns and temperature caused by changes in greenhouse gases (GHGs) (See Wikipedia)
Greehouse Gases (GHGs) -  gases in the Earth's atmosphere such carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone that are associated with climate change (See Wikipedia)

purchase - buy goods
purchase order - an order to buy goods, "a commercial document issued by a buyer to a seller, indicating types, quantities, and agreed prices for products or services the seller will provide to the buyer. Sending a PO to a supplier constitutes a legal offer to buy products or services" (See Wikipedia)

resumed - started again (after stopping)
flood - a large amount or number of something จำนวนมาก
flood of orders - a large amount of goods being ordered
anticipated - believe will happen, expected คาดว่าจะเกิดขึ้น
officer - a high level person in an organisation with special responsibilities (a government officer, a police officer, an army officer)
CP Intertrade - the subsidiary of the CP Group responsible for food exports
Ramadan - "the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and sexual relations from dawn until sunset. Fasting is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility, and spirituality. It is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of God (Arabic: الله‎, trans: Allah)" (See Wikipedia)

Mr Sumeth said other supporting factors were the impact from global warming and widespread drought that has led Russia to ban wheat exports.

Hot, dry weather is also expected to cut the output and export capacity of Ukraine and other European nations.

In addition, Mr Sumeth said lower output in Latin American countries, particularly Brazil, due to climate change is also expected to prompt them to increase their rice imports.

impact - an effect or influence ผลกระทบ
widespread - happening or existing in many places, or affecting many people อย่างแพร่หลาย
drought - a period of time when there is very little rain and water available ความแห้งแล้ง (See Wikipedia)
ban - to officially say that someone is not allowed to do something การห้าม  ห้ามอย่างเป็นทางการ
capacity - the amount of something that can be produced ความสามารถในการ (ผลิต)
capacity - the highest amount of production possible if all factories and machines are used
capacity - the largest amount that can be produced with current resources (factory, equipment, machines, facilities)
prompt - to cause someone to take action กระตุ้น
prompt - to cause something to happen or be done ก่อให้เกิด

The Philippines, which is the world's leading rice importer, is also now facing inadequate rice production and will have to import as much as two million tonnes this year," he said. "If Vietnam, which has already secured massive advance purchase orders, fails to deliver on its commitments, opportunity will return to our grains.

Vietnam expects to export 6.5 million tonnes of rice this year, 4 million of which have already been exported.

Mr Sumeth said Vietnam's 2% depreciation of the dong last week was unlikely to improve the rice industry's export competitiveness very much.

inadequate - not enough, or not good enough for a particular purpose, not enough to achieve goals อย่างไม่เพียงพอ
import - to buy or bring in products from another country นำเข้า
secure - get 
massive - very large in size, amount or numberใหญ่โต
advance purchase orders - people requesting to buy something far ahead of when it is to be delivered
commitments - things you must do (because you promised to do them)
deliver on its commitments - do what it promised to do
opportunity - a situation when it is possible to do something that you want to do (See glossary)
depreciation - reduce the value of a countrys' currency (so that exports are cheaper)
improve - to make better ทำให้ดีขึ้น
competitiveness - how well a business can do compared to other firms (does it have lower price or higher quality?) การแข่งขัน

The currency devaluation would instead drive up inflation and interest rates, consequently raising production costs for Vietnamese producers, he said.

Prices for Thai rice have bottomed out and are now starting to improve due largely to shrinking world rice stocks after traders delayed their purchases over the past four or five months," said Mr Sumeth. "The second half will represent an opportunity for Thai rice exports, which are expected to reach 8.5-9 million tonnes.

Pakistan, the world's third-largest rice exporter, [is] suffering from floods and other disasters...parboiled rice shipments would especially benefit from India's continued ban on non-basmati exports...

currency - the money accepted for exchange of goods in an economy เงินตรา (See Wikipedia)
devaluation - when a currency becomes less valuable or "weaker" compared to other currencies (meaning that less of the currency buys the same amount of goods as before) การลดค่าเงินบาท
drive up - make it increase
inflation - the rate at which all prices in the economy are increasing (See Economist Glossary) อัตราเงินเฟ้อ, ภาวะเงินเฟ้อ
interest - payments made for the use of another's money for a period of time
interest rates - the percentage of the loan amount that must be paid as a fee for using the money, the cost of borrowing money
bottomed out - reached the lowest point (will now start increasing again)
shrinking - reducing in size, getting smaller and smaller
stocks - large amounts stored for future use
traders - people who trade securities (stocks, bonds), derivatives or commodities ผู้ค้าหุ้นและหลักทรัพย์
X represents Y - X will be an example of Y
suffering - physical or mental pain or problems ความทุกข์ทรมาน
parboiled rice - rice that is boiled until partially cooked ข้าวต้มสำเร็จรูป
benefit - to get help or an advantage from something ผลประโยชน์
basmati rice - a variety of long grain rice, grown in India and Pakistan notable for its fragrance and delicate, nuanced flavour (See Wikipedia)  ข้าวพันธุ์บาสมาติ ของอินเดีย

(Source: Marketing, AGRICULTURE, Rice prices pick up as demand improves, 23/08/2010, Phusadee Arunmas, link


Universal education for all in Thailand, getting there, but not there yet

By Jon Fernquest

poor schoolVery young children are slipping through the cracks of  Thailand's educational system and not even receiving the basic education in reading, writing and arithmetic that they need to survive and thrive in the adult economic world: 

"Factors pushing children out of the formal school system include financial problems, broken families, poor health and pressure from schools which shun students with weak academic records."

Today's article begins after the vocabulary.

basic education - educational activities that take care of people's basic educational needs such "reading, writing, and arithmetic," usually takes place at an early age, but adult education such as learning to read (adult literacy) also included (See Wikipedia)
literacy - the ability to read and write (See Wikipedia)
universal - involving all members of a society or group
survive - to continue to exist, even in a very difficult situation
thrive - to become very successful (happy, healthy, rich)
factor - one of the things that determine and influence whether an event happens and how it happens 
broken families - situations where the mother and father of children stop living together (divorce, separation, etc), also known as a "broken home" 
pressure - when people are being pushed or forced to so something
shun - to deliberately avoid a person, place or activity
academic records - the information kept at schools on what courses a student has taken and the grades they received

Local News

Up to 2 million young miss basic education

Dire social, economic outcomes predicted
26/08/2010
Sirikul Bunnag

Up to 2 million children nationwide are not receiving a basic education, a development that could lead to dire social and economic consequences.

From 1.7 million to 2 million children aged between 3 and 17 years, or about 11% of the school-age population, have been pushed out of the education system, Juajan Jongsathityoo, a former education planning adviser to the Education Council, said yesterday.

outcome - one possible result of a process
predicted - what people think will happen in the future
nationwide - throughout a whole country ทั่วทั้งประเทศ
a development - something that happens, an event or situation
dire - very serious and bad แย่มาก เลวร้ายมาก
consequences - results of some actions or events
population - all the people living in a country, region or city (See Wikipedia)

The sorry state of affairs was uncovered by a study by Witthayakorn Chiangkoon, the dean of Rangsit University's College of Social Innovation.

The findings were raised for discussion at a seminar on children outside the education system held yesterday by the Quality Learning Foundation (QLF).

innovation - creating or "inventing" new ideas, equipment or methods
state - condition สภาพ
affairs - events and activities relating to the government, politics, economy etc of a country, region, or the world ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างประเทศ
sorry state of affairs - a bad or unpleasant situation (that is sad to even look at or think about)
dean - a senior official at a college or university, often the head of a faculty or department คณบดี (ทางการศึกษา), อธิการบดี
findings - the results or conclusions of an investigation or research
Quality Learning Foundation (QLF) - NGO working towards building a "Learning Society" in Thailand (See website and twitter: @qlfthailand)

The study found children of primary school age topped the list of those who were not receiving a basic formal education, followed by those in secondary school.

Factors pushing children out of the formal school system include financial problems, broken families, poor health and pressure from schools which shun students with weak academic records.

primary - first and most important
primary school - the first early stage of required education (compulsory education) from about age 5 to 12 (See Wikipedia)
broken families - situations where the mother and father of children stop living together (divorce, separation, etc), also known as a "broken home" 
pressure - when people are being pushed or forced to so something
shun - to deliberately avoid a person, place or activity
academic - related to education (especially university education) 
records - pieces of information describing something written down or stored on a computer บันทึุก
academic records - the information kept at schools on what courses a student has taken and the grades they received

Ms Juajan said the findings reflected a survey by the National Statistical Office in 2006 which found the quality of the country's labour force was declining.

Uneducated or under-educated children were unlikely to make up a strong pool of skilled workers in the future.

The number of workers with an education background below primary primary level stands at 21.6 million people, or 60% of the country's labour-age population," Ms Juajan said.

Low education standards make Thailand's labour exports uncompetitive, she said.

findings - what research or a study finds out or discovers to be true
reflect - show
survey - gathering information about what people think about different subjects (public opionion) by asking large numbers of people questions and counting their answers, and then using statistics, graphs, and tables to present results (See Wikipedia) การสำรวจ
labour force - all the people working in an economy (and those looking for work too)
declining - worsening
under-educated - do not have enough education to achieve goals in life
pool - a group of people available for work สมาคม กลุ่มสถาบัน
background - personal history and experience
standards - an acceptable level of quality or achievement มาตรฐาน

Supakorn Buasai, manager of the QLF which organised the seminar, insisted children must be allowed the opportunity to enter or re-enter the formal education system.

He said the problem of so many children not receiving a basic education would have serious social and economic ramifications if left untackled.

The children would become jobless and they might turn to illicit drugs and crime, Mr Supakorn said.

He urged municipalities across the country to help solve the problem as they were closely involved in managing primary and secondary education.

insisted - say firmly that something must happen or is true, and will not change mind
opportunity - a situation when it is possible to do something that you want to do (See glossary)
tackle a problem - solve a problem
problem left untackled - problem left not solved
illicit - against the law ผิดกฎหมาย
urged - advised someone very strongly about what action should be taken วิงวอน

Phatthalung municipality mayor Kosil Paisarnsil said his municipality faced a problem with students quitting school after it took over supervision of public schools a few days ago.

Many schools wanted to enrol only smart students. Students who did not do well academically could not stand the pressure and left.

Fewer than 10 out of 61 primary school students under the municipality's management could read or write Thai, the mayor said.

After completing Prathom Suksa6 (Grade 6), they failed to meet the academic requirements to continue their education in secondary school.

Tueng (real name withheld) said he was expelled from school when he was in Grade 9 for misconduct.

He said he became rebellious because he was frustrated that the school turned away children with troubled backgrounds.

He turned to illicit drugs and committed crimes but was finally caught.

Tueng said he was given a new lease of life by officials at Ban Kanchanapisek Remand Home.

municipality - a town, city or district with its own local government เทศบาล
mayor - the chief, head, leader of a town
supervision - the process of making sure that something is being done properly การควบคุมดูแล การตรวจตรา
enrol - register, sign up สมัคร
enrol - to put yourself onto the official list of members of a course or college ลงทะเบียน
stand the pressure - be able to resist being forced to do something
expelled - forced to leave a school or organization because of bad behaviour
misconduct - unacceptable or bad behaviour by someone in a position of authority or responsibility การประพฤติผิด
frustrated - feeling annoyed and impatient because prevented from achieving something ผิดหวัง,ท้อแท้ใจมาก หงุดหงิดใจ
troubled - has problems
committed crimes - do something illegal (they could be punished for by going to jail or paying a fine)
lease on life - given a new chance (after a failure)
remand - waiting for a criminal trial ("remanded in custody" means waiting in jail, "remanded on bail" means waiting outside of jail)

(Source: Bangkok Post, Up to 2 million young miss basic education, Dire social, economic outcomes predicted, 26/08/2010, Sirikul Bunnag, link


August 24, 2010

Labour rights laws for migrant workers in Thailand

By Jon Fernquest

domestic worker hidingMany Bangkokians might guess that most maids (more respectfully: "domestic workers") employed in Bangkok are not Thai at all but from Burma or Laos, in other words they are migrant domestic workers.

According to today's article, however, Thai domestic workers (225,000) still outnumber foreign domestic workers (150,000).

One might also guess that in many cases their employers have not obtained the necessary Thai work visa to make them legal since this would add to the cost of employing them. 

It is helpful to imagine what a more just and humane would be like for domestic workers.

If domestic workers had
enforced legal rights as workers and work visa laws were actually enforced on their employers, "domestic worker" might actually become an attractive occupation for poor rural Thais, work they could support and build a future for their families with.  

One key labour right is the "right to change employers" which is the key to avoiding abusive employers. 

There are many other issues that the new law must address including: unfair dismissal, severance pay, holding wages in arrears and sometimes not even paying it at all, which is made even easier if the worker has no official visa and is completely dependent on their employer. 

Today's article begins after the vocabulary below.

On right photo of domestic worker trying to hide from view behind a wall. They are often kept locked up in their employer's house and often are not paid their wages on time or at all. Because their employer does not get them a visa and legal residence in Thailand, they are completely dependent on their employer being just. 

domestic worker - a person working in the home of a family doing tasks such as cooking, house cleaning and washing (See Wikipedia)
domestic - within the home
migrant - moving from one place, region or country to another in order to work and/or live
migrant workers - people who move to another country to work
migrant domestic worker - maids from other countries who work in the the homes or condomimiums of your country (See Wikipedia)
X outnumbers Y - there is more X then there is Y
work visa -
the informal name for the Thai visa that allows a person to work in Thailand
enforced
legal rights
 - what the law allows you to have and do สิทธิ์ (See Wikipedia)
attractive occupation - a job that is worth having and doing (because a good wage, interesting, a nice and fair employer, etc)
abusive -
treating a person in a violent way
arrears - money that is owed that should have been paid earlier
dependent - needing another person to live, work or do some other activity
sever -
cut
severance - the act of ending an employee's employment contract
severance pay - the amount of money that must be paid to an employee if their employment is ended (according to the contract they signed)
hold in arrears -

dismissal - when a company or other organization removes an employee from their job

Local News
LABOUR

Maid-to-order bill helps domestic workers

23/08/2010
Lamphai Intathep

Hundreds of thousands of domestic workers are set to gain the same protection enjoyed by workers in official economic sectors.

Pongsak Plengsaeng, an adviser to Labour Minister Paitoon Kaewthong, said the draft of the ministerial regulation on the protection of domestic workers, those who work within their employers' household, was expected to be completed on Sept 23, the ministry's anniversary.

maid vs. made - "worker who cleans a house" vs. "to create something" (the title plays with the similarity of these two words)
play on words -
made to order -
made specially to meet your needs and requirements (example: made to order suit that fits exactly)  
sector - a part of a country's economic or business activity ภาค (เศรษฐกิจ) (public sector = government, private sector = all businesses, household sector = families and consumers, banking sector,...) (See Wikipedia)
bill - a written document containing a proposal for a new law ญัตติ
official - approved by the government or some authority ที่เป็นทางการ
draft - not in a final form and likely to be changed ร่าง
regulation - an official rule that controls the way that things are done กฎระเบียบ, ระเบียบข้อบังคับ
household - a group of people, often a family, who live together ครัวเรือน
expected - believe will happen คาดว่า (จะเกิดขึ้น)
anniversary - a date when you celebrate something that happened in a previous year that is important to you วันครบรอบ

He said it would be sent to the cabinet for consideration and approval this year.

Mr Pongsak said the regulation would lure more people to the domestic industry as they would be protected by the law, and, importantly, the law would be promoted among employers and employees.

He said employees should know about their basic rights and employers must realise what they should avoid.

consideration - to go over details before deciding to do a project
approval - official permission การอนุมัต
lure - to persuade someone to do something by making seem very attractive หลอกล่อ (See glossary)
employers - companies that hire workers
rights - what the law allows you to have and do สิทธิ์ (See Wikipedia)
realise - to know about ตระหนัก รู้

The minimum wage, day leave, access to medical treatment and education, and other requirements would be specified in the ministerial regulation.

Mr Pongsak's announcement at a seminar yesterday heralding this Saturday's Day of Domestic Workers is being cheered by domestic workers, both Thais and foreigners, and labour rights activists.

wage - an amount of money that you earn for working, usually according to how many hours or days you work each week or month ค่าจ้าง
leave - time take off from work, either paid or unpaid การพักงาน
leave - a period of time when you are not working at your job, doing something else (for example, "medical leave" to receive medical treatment)
access - the right or opportunity to have or use something ได้รับสิทธิ์หรือโอกาสในการใช้
access - the ability to get something สิทธิหรือโอกาสในการใช้
treatment - the process of providing medical care การรักษา
announcement - information given to public ประกาศ
heralding - happening before some event, informing people that the event will happen, announcing
cheer - to show that you like and appreciate something by shouting happily and clapping your hands
activist – someone who takes part in activities that are intended to achieve political or social change, especially someone who is a member of an organisation นักกิจกรรม 
labour rights activists - people working for change in the laws that protect workers

The 1998 Labour Protection Act does not cover domestic workers.

Sumeth Riddhagani, head of the House of Representatives' labour committee, said domestic workers were looked on as not contributing much to the country's economy, so policy makers had previously paid them little attention.

Many do not have a day off, holidays, health benefits, education opportunities or any bargaining power with their employers. Some domestic workers also suffer sexual harassment. 

1998 Labour Protection Act - Thailand's set of laws for protecting the rights of workers, covers such things as "severance pay" and "unfair dismissal"  (Read the law (pdf))
policy - a set of plans or action agreed on by a government, political party, business, or other group นโยบาย (See Wikipedia)
benefits - things like health insurance that employees receives in addition to their salary and wages
opportunities - situations in which it is possible to do what you want or need to do
bargaining power - the ability to get a better deal from someone (for example, a better price for something you want to buy)
power - energy in the form of electricity produced in large quantities and used to operate lights, machines, and heating
suffer - to experience physical or mental pain
sexual harassment - "intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors" (See Wikipedia)

Adisorn Kerdmongkol, a member of the human rights activist group Committee of Action Network for Migrants, said there was no exact number of domestic workers in the country.

But based on Kasikorn Research Centre data collected in 2007, there were an estimated 400,000 people working for private households, consisting of 225,000 Thai-nationality domestic workers and 150,000 foreign domestics. The remaining 25,000 were Thai people working in overseas households.

Mr Adisorn applauded the government's action.

activist - someone who takes part in activities that are intended to achieve political or social change, especially someone who is a member of an organisation นักกิจกรรม, ผู้ดำเนินการที่มีความกระตือรือร้น
Action Network for Migrants (ANM) - an NGO in Thailand that works to protect the rights of migrants and migrant workers (See contact information)
Kasikorn Research Center - Thailand's top private economic research center (See website)
data - facts or information used for making calculations or decisions ข้อมูล
households - families or groups of people living together
nationality - the official right to belong to a particular country สัญชาติ,เชื้อชาติ, ชนชาติ
applauded - praised, said they thought something was very good

(Source: Bangkok Post, LABOUR, Maid-to-order bill helps domestic workers, 23/08/2010, Lamphai Intathep, link)




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