Bangkok, Nov 6 (IANS): Over 5,300 people have lost their jobs after operations in 20,000 companies in Thailand were affected by floods, officials said.

Athit Ismo, director-general of the labour ministry's department of labour protection and welfare, said the companies employ over 790,000 people in 16 provinces, Xinhua reported citing the Bangkok Post newspaper.

Flooded firms have laid off more than 5,300 employees, including workers in Bangkok and central province of Nonthaburi, said Athit.

Seven industrial estates were under water, costing economic damage of at least $4.9 billion.

Ten Japanese companies, whose production facilities in Thailand have been flooded, are planning to send around 2,000 Thai workers to Japan to work there temporarily, said secretary for labour Somkiat Chayasriwong.

The floods caused by heavy monsoon rains and overflow from several dams in the upper regions of the country have claimed more than 400 lives and affected around 10 million people since July.