Rapid Assessment for Resilient Recovery and ... - GFDRR

Promote Labor Intensive Recovery Strategies
As noted, labor intensive recovery programs have numerous benefits as they allow Thailand
to simultaneously provide employment opportunities to flood-affected workers from
all sectors, encourage physical recovery of affected infrastructure, and help rebuild in a
manner which limits the effects of future disasters.
Cash-for-work programs are a particularly effective way to encourage this type of recovery.
Local affected workers should be employed to remove debris, help to destroy facilities
beyond repair, and clean or rebuild damaged facilities including factories, government
buildings, schools, hospitals, and public markets. New projects should also be initiated to
prevent future crises such as the construction of irrigation channels and drainage canals,
shelters and flood protection barriers.
This type of work can be executed at all levels of the supply chain as there is sure to be
a need for the production of construction supplies such as hollow or interlocking blocks,
roofing, and ecological materials. To maximize local economic recovery, materials should
be procured locally as much as possible. Similarly, contracting local enterprises for demolition,
rehabilitation and construction work can boost local economy in disaster-affected
areas.
Migrant labor will be an important aspect of these recovery programs. Policies must be
crafted in order to avoid an increase in illegal immigration and harness the benefits migrant
workers can provide. The best way to accomplish this will be for the Thai government to
work with origin countries to establish a simplified and cost efficient legal import process.
For Burmese workers who have left Thailand, but wish to return, the Burmese authorities
will issue a temporary passport following official request from the relevant employers.
Create Programs and Incentives for Vocational Skills Training for Recovery Based
Jobs
As the flooding and subsequent recovery create demand for specific skills and shift labor
markets, the government should support vocational skills training programs to meet new
demands and ensure decent work opportunities for workers affected by the floods. Such
programs can be supported with various incentives for attendance.
It is critical that such programs are based off of a detailed labor market analysis. Training
programs that teach ‘general skills’ will be of limited utility as they utilize valuable
resources without meeting the new demands created by the floods. These trainings should
address both short- and long-term recovery with short-cycle skills training programs for
local affected workers and longer-term training re-training programs to assist enterprises.
Programs should be examined so they benefit vulnerable populations including informal
sector workers, migrants, and women.
The ILO has developed a low-expense small and medium enterprise development program
that can be adapted for flood recovery and implemented across flood-affected provinces
at little to no cost. This is a beneficial option since it stresses community-led development
and entrepreneurship, which is a critical component of overall economic recovery.
214 THAI FLOOD 2011 RAPID ASSESSMENT FOR RESILIENT RECOVERY AND RECONSTRUCTION PLANNING