Thai floods hit up to 180 clothing manufacturers

The protracted flooding is expected to hit as many as 180 clothing manufacturers across Thailand, causing losses that can not yet be estimated, but 100,000 workers will be immediately in jeopardy, as they are on daily wages.

Already at least 71 manufacturers have suffered and the rapid spread of floodwaters to Phetchakasem, Bang Kae, Aom Yai and Aom Noi, where many garment, fabric, bleaching and dyeing plants are located abundance, will curtail the industry’s production for a month because of the shortage of materials.

The flood crisis in Thailand is forecast to delay the shipments of those manufacturers by at least a month. However, they are planning to shift to air freight instead of sea transport to catch up with their orders from buyers overseas.

Sukij Kongpiyacharn (pictured), president of the Thai Garment Manufacturers Association, said that the industry’s most important problem is that workers can not enter the plants even though the water level is not as high as other areas and in inundated industrial estates.

For the full story, see the December 2011 edition of Textiles South East Asia