Thailand may find itself at a disadvantage because of inferior English skills when Southeast Asia becomes a single community, academics and industrialists have warned.
The launch of the ASEAN Community in 2015 will see a free flow of professionals and skilled workers among the 10 member states of the grouping. Once the community is formed, Thais will be able to look for jobs outside the country but they will have to brace themselves for challenges from regional competitors over positions in multinational and international organizations based in Thailand that require English as the working language.