08.10.09 5,000 lose jobs after Map Ta Phut ruling
Some 5,000 construction workers have been laid off after the
Central Administrative Court ordered a halt to 76 industrial projects
in Map Ta Phut and nearby areas in Rayong.
They are among the first casualties of the judicial review of the
government's industrial policy.
The Supreme Administrative Court yesterday accepted the government's
appeal against the injunction on 76 investment projects worth Bt400
billion.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva vowed
to quickly pass organic laws for Article 67 of the Constitution to ease
difficulties faced by some of the petrochemical, energy and steel
projects suspended by the court.
Santi Vilassakdanont, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries
(FTI), said Abhisit would raise the issue at the meeting with
government units and the Office of the Attorney-General tomorrow.
He said the organic laws, if approved by the Cabinet, could be rushed to Parliament for approval early next year.
Prasert Boonsumphun, CEO of PTT, one of the biggest investors in Map
Ta Phut, said the latest development had hurt not only PTT, Siam Cement
Group and other Thai and foreign investors in the area, but also the
country's international image as an investment hub.
Surong Bulakul, CEO of Thai Oil, said the damage was already being
felt, such as the loss of 5,000 construction jobs in the area.
FTI's Santi said the Office of Attorney-Generalwould consider if the
health impact assessment required under the Constitution could be
included in the environmental impact assessment to make it easier for
investors to comply with the law.
An independent environmental body also needs to be set up to validate the HIA and EIA. "The
private sector expects that once subsequent laws are enacted, investors
will know if they have to complete only the EIA or both the EIA and
HIA," Santi said.
Some suspended projects can proceed despite the injunction, but
other schemes worth Bt180 billion cannot, as they have not yet finished
their EIA.
FTI vice chairman Payungsak Chartsutipol said that to speed up the
legal process under Article 67, Abhisit indicated that environmental
laws might be reviewed.
The Cabinet will consider the matter next week and Abhisit hopes the amendments would be completed early next year. Source: The Nation, 08.10.09 http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/10/08/business/business_30114035.php
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