As many as 2,863 Thai workers have reportedly lost their job in January this year and the country's higher number of unemployed is expected, according to the Thai Ministry of Labour Wednesday.

The 2,863 laid-off workers were the outcome of the closure of some 50 private firms, said director-general Amporn Nitisiri of the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, the website by the Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.

Moreover, some other 102 companies, which had been affected by the global economic downturn, were also expected to lay off workers, the website said.

These 102 companies have a combined workforce of 68,122, while it is expected that of this total number, some 23,296 workers are likely to be laid off and some other 44,826 might be asked to reduce working hours.

Earlier, Thailand's National Statistical Office (NSP) reported that in December of 2008 alone the country's unemployed rate edged up, to stand at about 540,000, or 0.6 percent higher year-on-year. Of this number, some 150,000 people were new graduates.

The Thai cabinet on Wednesday agreed to extend the unemployment compensation period for laid-off workers from six months to eight months, the website quoted Deputy Government Spokesman Phutthipong Punnakan as saying.

During the 1997 economic crisis, the Thai unemployment rate was 4.4 percent or up to 1.4 million.

(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2009)