Summary of AMCHAM Business Today Video Conference for March 27
AMCHAM Thailand welcomed members at its semi-weekly AMCHAM Business Today Video Conference on March 27th at 2. Representatives on the call included members from the manufacturing, legal, accounting and education sectors, with a mix of multinationals and small businesses. A representative from the U.S. Embassy was also on the call.
Ambassador Tomwit opened the discussion with a summary of the 10 directives issued by the Thai government this morning. For more details, see his full email in the members-only portal.
Questions raised by participants included:
- Labor Issues. How will workers receive their benefits from social insurance if they lose their work due to the covid-19 outbreak, and what evidence must an employer provide the Social Security Fund to ensure that they do so. Clarifications and forms are expected tomorrow.
- Employee mobility and logistics. What are members’ experiences so far with checkpoints, in particular large manufacturers who move hundreds of workers between provinces each day. What are an employer’s responsibilities in ensuring that all employees wear masks, and that social distancing is applied in vehicles, for example.
- Stimulus package. What are members’ experiences on obtaining low interest loans?
- International Travel. How do returning Thai nationals and residents obtain the health certification necessary to enter the country? Are companies facing issues with sending expats to their home countries, or are most currently sheltering in place?
- U.S. Embassy Services. The U.S. Embassy is still open for American Consular Services, although many Embassy members are working from home. Visas are no longer being issued. However, with the exception of some services, like notary services, that have been suspended, the Embassy stands ready to assist U.S. citizens as usual.
The session wrapped with a small business owner outlining labor issues they are facing as they look to manage cash flow over the next months, and receiving useful input from larger corporate members managing the same issues.
ALL AMCHAM members are welcome to join our AMCHAM Business Today Video Conferences, which are held on Wednesdays at 10 am and Fridays at 2pm. These video conferences are member-led discussions, moderated by Executive Director Heidi Gallant and the AMCHAM team, and allow members to connect online, ask questions face-to-face and share best practices and solutions to shared challenges. Register here for the next AMCHAM Business Today on Wednesday April 1.
