thailabour

Thailand deliberately pursued economic growth from its first economic development plan in 1961 to the present sixth plan. Economic growth has recently been greater than ever, partly in response to government incentives to invest in manufacturing for export.

Thai governments, both civilian and military, have accepted capitalism and the sponsorship and guidance of international agencies such as the World Bank, for their principles of development. As a result, much of the Thai economy is now dependent on external investment and technology, functioning within an international division of labour largely controlled by multinational companies.

These companies allocate labour intensive aspects of production to developing countries such as Thailand. Research, development and capital intensive processes are maintained in developed countries. The reason for this arrangement is to reduce the cost of labour and the risks of labour unrest. In Thailand labour labour is cheap and the capacity of the labour movement to organise is limited.

Some of the most important manufacturing export industries in Thailand are garment making, electronic assembly and jewellery making. Most workers in these industries are women because they can be paid less than men. In general, increased employment in manufacturing as against decreased employment in agriculture is the readily apparent and ongoing trend for the Thai economy.

The rapid and massive economic change in Thai society has had effects in every sphere, indeed, it has triggered a crisis. Some results are listed below.

Fist, the massive exhaustion of natural resources, especially forests. In 1961 Thailand had 70% forest cover; now it has less than 20%. Second, the ejection of farmers from their traditional lands because of the increasing concentration of land ownership, and government policies to encourage commercial forestry.

Third, the poverty which causes in creasing crime and prostitution. Fourth the crisis in normal conduct stemming from confusion with the leap from relative self-sufficient agricultural production to competitive urban consumerism.

Fifth, the condition of workers employed by capitalist enterprises. They are treated as a production factor only, with their value determined by market demand and their capacity to organise against management. This condition is a source of alienation, reducing workers sense of self-worth and so their capacity for self-direction.

The Thai labour struggle

Differences in the interests of labour and capital lead to conflicts and disputes over labour rights. As yet, this conflict has been limited by social and economic factors beyond the process of production itself. Sections of the Thai labour movement are at present demanding social security, as well as the right to bargain with employers and establish unions on that basis.

The fulfilment of these demands requires changes in the share of profits to be allocated to labour and capital, and are possible within the present economic framework. Therefore, they represent only an early stage of realisation in the struggle between social classes. In fact there is only limited class awareness for social change in Thailand, and the Thai labour movement lacks unity and solidarity. Be cause the labour movement lacks a proper critique of society, and a theory of social change, it is unable to present a coherent plan of social organisation to the general public.

The Thai state acts as guardian of capitalism in its authoritative control of the labour movement. It encourages harmony in class relations and operates a central labour control institution called the three-party alliance, a body consisting of employee, employer and state representatives. The state also fosters ‘fake’ labour unions which pursue shorts term benefits at the expense of the true interests of labour.

Labour has a longer history of existence than capital, but the labour movement is yet unable to relate its experience to the present situation. Today labour organisations respond to current economic and political conditions without looking beyond them.

The present mainstream labour organisation which has developed since the labour relations law of 1975, reveals several limitations:

Unions accept that labour is bought and sold within a collective bargaining systems. Unions view workers as consumers rather than producers and do not see that workers build the capitalist economy or are in a position to alter it.

Unions accept buying and selling of labour as just. They demand only a small share of production profit and do not see that wages constitute exploitation.

The unions are like other organisation: their increasing bureaucracy distances themselves from the real needs of workers.<

Unfortunate as these limitations are, labour unions are a necessary basis for the assertion of worker rights, social justice and democracy.<

The next step for Thai labour

Yet the labour movement is part of the crisis of capitalist development and it cannot alone provide the support necessary for the struggle of workers for a better way of life. The labour movement must therefore take a step forward.

Labour must link itself to other groups to present a coherent plan for economic and political change. This plan will have people and respect for humanity at its centre and as its principle.
The labour movement must actively participate in the struggle to make economics, politics and social ideology conform to human rights and freedoms. In social ideology, awareness encompassing benefits to all social groups and the environment must replace a limited perception of self interest. It is also necessary to alter workers’ passive acceptance of conditions and their sense of powerlessness. Education and experience of struggle are required to a accomplish this.
The strategy and direction of the labour movement should be to identify its problems as the problems of society by establishing friendly, encouraging relations between itself and other groups through coordination and information exchange.
In training, non-violent methods of struggle should be taught

Negotiation and bargaining, the withdrawal of cooperation, normal campaigns and mobilisation to increase pressure when aims are not met, should be the methods employed by the labour movement.

Struggle must be planned and based on participants’ awareness of the struggle for social change. Reliance on individual leadership and unplanned action is not sufficient.
For the labour movement to grow and become stronger, union authority has to be decentralised through worker participation.<

Decision-making must begin at the bottom and move up from members to executive level; the power of leaders needs to be reduced, with checks and balances to protect against self-interest, so that leadership functions in a representative capacity.

Because of the importance of women workers, the development of women’s organisations is vital. Struggle for sexual equality and against the traditional view of women as less powerful is necessary. Women must receive equal pay for equal work .Women also need support to relieve them of family burdens ,for this child care needs to be addressed

The Thai labour struggle

The next step for Thai labour

Yet the labour movement is part of the crisis of capitalist development and it cannot alone provide the support necessary for the struggle of workers for a better way of life. The labour movement must therefore take a step forward.

From Asian Labour Update of AMRC Issue 09 October 1992