Protests disrupt services in Thailand

Thailand said more than 63,000 workers were unable to do their jobs due to anti-government protests that have caused huge disruption and shuttered shopping centres and hotels.

A giant crossroads in the heart of Bangkok's premier retail district is the current protest base of red-shirt protesters who have mounted four weeks of rolling demonstrations across the capital. Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said that 63,601 workers were temporarily out of work due to the closure of 13 hotels, five department stores and 30 bank branches.

With no end in sight to the standoff, the Labour Ministry ordered employers to keep paying wages to workers or encourage them to take annual vacation or other leave.