The Bangkok Post reports that the Industry Ministry is considering what action to take against factories that have constructed plants without permits.

An Industry Ministry committee has been reviewing factory permit applications, and has found that 21 projects require further consideration as to whether they were constructed before receiving approval.

According to the Federation of Thai Industries, a number of its members have encountered long delays in obtaining factory permits, which are administered by the same Industry Ministry committee.

The Industry Ministry's permanent secretary, Witoon Simachokedee, reportedly stated that the Ministry is mulling whether to stop operations of factories that did not receive permits before they commenced operations.

In the past, the  Industry Ministry has in practice often overlooked the failure to obtain factory permits before the commencement of operations if a factory permit application is under the consideration of the Industry Ministry and a permit is subsequently granted.