The Thai Auto Parts Manufacturers Association will ask for a waiver of the corporate income tax this year for its members, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that were ravaged by the massive floods, says president Atchana Limpaitoon.

The request will be made at a joint meeting of the Federation of Thai Industries' automobile and auto parts industry clubs and the Thai Automobile and Auto Parts Manufacturers Associations at some point this week.

The meeting will assess total damages for automobile and auto-parts sectors during the devastating floods and seek assistance and recovery measures.

"The Thai Automotive Institute estimates some 1,000 auto-parts SMEs fell victim to the floods," she said.

She blamed the disaster on authorities being too slow to act and being inexperienced.

"The authorities thought the floods this year would not be as severe as years past, so they did not seriously prepare for flooding. If they had, the industrial estates in Ayutthaya will not be inundated," said Ms Atchana.

The government promised to cut the corporate income tax by 7% to 23% next year during the election campaign, dropping to 20% in 2013.

The association wants the tax waiver to carry over to 2012 if flood-hit auto parts SMEs have not recovered by next year. It also wants postponement of employees' contributions to the social security fund to help relieve their financial burdens for a while. And it wants the promised the 300-baht minimum wage postponed.

Soft loans will be important for SMEs to rebuild, she added.

"We are not so worried about the loans since the SME Bank and other financial institutions are prepared," said Ms Atchana.

She said industry rehabilitation should take three to four months.