Covid causes plunge into povertyFormer employees of Wingspan Services, a subsidiary of Thai Airways International, converge on Government House to air their grievances on Sept 17, 2020. The unemployment rate rose to 1.97% in the second quarter of last year, from 1.03% in the first quarter, meaning about 700,000 people were jobless. Although the unemployment figure was up in the second quarter, the increase was not substantial. Mr Somchai said the quasi-unemployed numbered around 5.4 million in the second quarter of last year, as estimated by the central bank. On average, working hours dropped from 41 hours a week in the first quarter of last year to 39 hours per week in the second quarter.

Source: Bangkok Post August 25, 2021 14:37 UTC