Somsak Thepsuthin ,Labour Minister vow to improve social security benefits and address the labour contracting problem .

Representatives of more than five labour organisations i.e. the Labour Organisation of Thailand, the Alliance of Democratic Trade ’ Unions, the Congress of Workers Injured or Sick at Work and the Working Women Unity Group, were led by the Labour Solidarity Committee to submit demands to Mr.Somsak Thepsuthin, Minister of the Labour Ministry, at the Professor Nikom Jandhra-vithoon auditorium on 28 September 2005 during 9.00-12.00 a.m. Many labour priority issues were submiited and called for resolutions. Among them were demands for amendment of the labour law to abolish labour contracting practices, imporovement of benefits and compensations for insured persons within the social security system, establishment of an institution to oversee safety at work and an increase of the minimum wage to 233 baht etc.

Mr. Somsak Thepsuthin responded to the demand on the contracts of labour by confirming that the Ministry of Labour has already proceeded with the amendment of the labour protection law in order to provide the contracted workers with the same rights and benefits as enjoyed by the regular employees. He said, the abolishment of labour contracting practices was not possible as it contradicted Article 50 of the Constitution. He insisted in front of more than 100 representatives of various workers’ organisations that without such contradiction, the Ministry of Labour would have already taken action to make the contracts of labour illegal because he was not happy to see workers exploited by the headhunters. Mr.Suthin added that additional information and further study were still needed,

Regarding demands from the Alliance of Democratic Trade’ Unions(ADTU) for the improvement of compensations and benefits of the insured person under the social security system, namely the medicare benefits for up to two children of the insured person, child delivery and child care benefits to be increased from 6000 to 10,000 baht and from 200 to 300 baht respectively, and the latter for an extended period of 12 instead of 6 years. After a thorough consideration on the issues, it could perhaps turn out that a higher benefits were even possible, for example, child care benefits of 350 to 450 baht etc.

Ms. Wilaiwan Sae-tiey subsequently said during a press release that the Labour Solidarity Committee and other organisations which were represented at the meeting today would bring more than 5000 workers to rally in front of the Government House on 14 October 2005 during 18.00-22.00 p.m. to follow-up on the progress of government attempt to resolve the labour issues as demanded. A press release on the movement was to be organised at the Labour Museum on 2 October, 2005 at 14.00 p.m.