150 temporary lifeguards being trained

The Phuket OrBorJor (Phuket Provincial Organisation) is setting up a training course for 150 new lifeguards in readiness to step in if no one bids in the new auction.

A meeting at the OrBorJor office today (October 6) chaired by Vice Governor Thawornwat Kongkaew, along with many local authorities, discussed about more possible solutions for Phuket lifeguard duties.

There have been 98 lifeguards missing since Phuket Lifeguard company finished the contract with the OrBorTor and these lifeguard were stationed on 39 spots around Phuket’s 12 main beaches.

In order to create more professional lifeguards available for duty, the participants at the meeting agreed that the OrBorJor will be the one training a new set of 150 lifeguards which is expected to be completed before the end of October. The training will be supported by Royal Thai Navy Area 3 and and an Australian lifeguard team to ensure the new lifeguards reach international standards. This new team will be sent to stations on each Phuket beach for the long term if there aren’t any new companies bidding in the auction to find a new contractor.

Meanwhile, the meeting also agreed that the local administration organisations should be able to hire lifeguards for their own areas of responsibility if no companies contract to provide lifeguards for the entire island. These budget will be available in the budget year 2019.

As an urgent solution, the OrBorJor agreed to hire individuals at 14,000 THB per month per lifeguard while they continue to organise the next auction. If there’s no company bidding for the new auction the individual hirings will extend for the whole year.

Though the lifeguards who used to work under the past company contract with the OrBorJor remain hesitant to apply for the new jobs, the OrBorJor believe that they will change their mind when they get clear information about the new situation and the commitments to provide services into the future.