Dining restrictions in Thai provinces expected to cost 200,000 jobs

After the Thai government imposed new COVID-19 led restrictions that prohibit eating in eateries, the country’s Restaurant Business Associate expects over 200,000 workers to lose their jobs.

The restrictions are enforced in six provinces — Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan — effective May 1. 

“Since the government reduced service hours to closing at 9pm, dine-in customers at restaurants are 65-70% of normal levels. However, with a ban on sit-in dining, I wonder how many will still want to come,” said Ladda Sampawthong, the association’s president, reports Bangkok Post.  

She expects the new restrictions to have a “huge” impact on medium to large restaurants as all targeted provinces have many of such outlets. 

Customers are now more concerned with the latest wave of COVID-19 cases, as compared to previous outbreaks due to the high number of infections, she said.

In the first two waves, customers ordered food online or bought take-away, but they have now changed their behaviour, she observed, adding that more people are now opting to cook at home, resulting in fewer restaurant orders.

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“This new restriction on restaurants has been enforced too soon. We understand the purpose is to stop the virus spread and are willing to follow it, but our main concern is the employees,” she said.