Reliance on cheap, low-skilled workforce keeps Thailand trapped 

And the responsibility for this rests squarely on the shoulders of those in power, the elite (who are horrendously misguided in thinking that, by keeping the masses dumb, they protect their fortunes) and the failed educational system. Unless, and until this much needed reform takes place, this so called 4.0 programme is merely wishful thinking. A step in the right direction, but with nothing to back it up. The educational system needs to be dismantled and rebuilt from the ground up – hopefully with outsiders for guidance. The very first thing needed is for students to begin questioning the teachers, and the teachers have to be man enough to deal with this. That encourages curiosity. Without it, they remain mired in ignorance. 
As far as ignoring the bottom 40 per cent, I would say it was closer to the bottom 60 per cent. And they have been doing this for nearly a millennium. 
spidermike00
“We need to overhaul our manufacturing structure or else Thailand will not be able to compete against other nations,” one academic noted.
This is the first cruncher statement. Thailand is being left behind already as foreign investment moves into neighbouring countries which offer a more secure base as compared to a military-led regime that sometimes shows little respect for foreign investors. One example is the matter of the Australian gold mine that was stolen by the government and which is now the hands of international law courts.
Taking it further, sovereign risk can be of major concern to foreign investors as applied to the consequences for business profits of sudden change in government taxes, subsidies or regulations and ownership of investments.
“He said that instead of using technology, employers had relied on migrant workers from neighbouring countries over the past decade.”
This is the second cruncher statement which again highlights the neglect of (new) technology by industry in favour of cheap imported labour to make more money in the short term. In other words immediate GREED instead of longer-term planning and re-investment of profits.
Unless something changes, there may well be serious consequences that will take a toll on the economy of the country. 
Cadbury
ThaiVisa