Most skilled workers lack understanding of AEC survey

 

Posted in:AEC English Article16 February2012

 

More than half of the skilled labourers and professionals in Thailandlack a good understanding of the upcoming ASEAN Economic Community, according toan in-depth survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), and notmany of those polled see how it will benefit them.

 

The AEC will result in the free flow of skilled labour within ASEAN membercountries after it comes into effect in 2015. Skilled workers and professionalsare expected to flow into the Kingdom, especially from Singapore, Malaysia,Brunei and the Philippines. Service careers such as nursing and dentistry areexpected to see particular movement, resulting in high competition in the localworkforce.

 

Assistant Professor AatPisanwanich, director of the Centre for InternationalTrade Studies at UTCC, said in-depth interviews had been conducted with seven oreight respondents from each of six service careers that are under the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Services. They are dentistry, medicine,nursing, accountancy services, engineering and architecture.

 

Aat said Thailand had yet to prepare for the new challenges that will bepresented by the AEC.

 

He said the survey found that only 50 per cent of dental practitionersinThailand had a good understanding of the AEC and most of them saw no realbenefit from it to their careers.

 

More than 50 per cent of medical practitioners did anticipate some benefitsfrom the AEC. However, they preferred to stay in Thailand rather than otherASEAN countries because of the Kingdom’s high standards of medical services.They also don’t want to have to adjust to new cultures. Many want to go todeveloped countries in North America or Europe when they upgrade and grow theircareer paths.

 

“Nursing and dentistry will be the most worrying careers, as they will bechallenged by inbound professionals from the Philippines and Europerespectively,” Aat said.

 

He said that according to the survey, only 20 per cent of nurses had a goodunderstanding of the AEC and recognised its benefits. They also had littleinterest in working abroad, particularly in ASEAN countries. About 80 per centof accountants had a good understanding of the AEC, but only half of them sawany real benefit in it.

 

Only 30 per cent of engineers understood the AEC well, and only 10 per centsaw it as beneficial. Thai engineers work to comparable standards to Singaporeand the Philippines, but they have a disadvantage in terms of English-languageability.
Half of Thai architects still lack a good understanding of the AEC andrecognise its benefits. However, they see it as a good opportunity to workabroad, especially in Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Aat said thegovernment should educate skilled labourers and professionals on the benefitsand opportunities of the AECbefore it kicks in.

 

By: The Nation
อ่านต่อ: http://www.thai-aec.com/206#ixzz2ssvaY5Zp
(Source: http://www.thai-aec.com/206 retrieved 11/2/2014)

 

What are the situations of the following professionals in Thailand concerning the free flow of skilled labor, according to the reading text?

Questions		Click Answer Key
1. Medical practitioners		1. 50% anticipate the benefit but preferred to stay in Thailand. 2. Will be challenged by inbound professionals from the Philippines and Europe 3. 80% understand the AEC but half saw real benefit 4. 30 % understood well; only 10% saw it beneficial. Their works are comparable standards to Singapore and the Philippines but have disadvantage in terms of English language ability. 5. Did not mention
2. Nursesand dentists
3. Accountants
4. Engineers
5. Surveyors

1. What is the situation in your country?

Questions	Click Answer Key:(open answers)
1. Medical practitioners
2. Nursesand dentists
3. Accountants
4. Engineers

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