Ministry of Labour opens for public hearing from workers.
Group of workers protested of the proposal of Labour Protection Act, and request MOL to revise many point such as the minimum wages and the fixed wages.
On February 8th, 2006, group of worker including the Alliance for Democratic Trade Unions, International Textile, Garment & Leather Workers' Federation of Thailand (ITGLWF) led by Mr. Somyot Pruksakasemsuk handed in the letter to request for a revision of Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541 (1998) that Cabinet Ministers have approved. They requested the Cabinet Ministers to hold the proposal before sending to Juridical Council for approval because the Act is not truly protecting the workers so there should be a public hearing first, especially, from low-level workers who will be affected if the Law is approved. For the factors that need revision are the minimum wage at present is not consistent with the living cost and the termination of provincial subcommittees. Moreover, for the hiring of workers on certain period, there is some points that conflict with the Act even though the Law states that owners are to treat workers on hiring period equal to contracted workers, which might lead to a wrong definition in the future. The fact is that in some places, workers on hiring period have to work equal to contracted workers but received less wages and less benefits. Lastly, the benefits women workers should receive, for example, they should be paid when on a maternity leave and there should be a separate restroom of men and women.
Dr. Jaturong Pengnorapat, Advisor of Labour Minister, said that for the requests, MOL will take a quick action, especially about the public hearing, as it has direct concern toward workers. For other part that can not be in operation right now, involved institutions are solving the problem as fast as possible. In the past, Labour Ministry pays special attention to the workers. Today, there has been a changed in many policies such as to set up a committee of Social Security appointed from workers who are not part of any union as a member of committee and will give a chance to workers to be involved in making other concerned decision.
On February 8th, 2006, group of worker including the Alliance for Democratic Trade Unions, International Textile, Garment & Leather Workers' Federation of Thailand (ITGLWF) led by Mr. Somyot Pruksakasemsuk handed in the letter to request for a revision of Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541 (1998) that Cabinet Ministers have approved. They requested the Cabinet Ministers to hold the proposal before sending to Juridical Council for approval because the Act is not truly protecting the workers so there should be a public hearing first, especially, from low-level workers who will be affected if the Law is approved. For the factors that need revision are the minimum wage at present is not consistent with the living cost and the termination of provincial subcommittees. Moreover, for the hiring of workers on certain period, there is some points that conflict with the Act even though the Law states that owners are to treat workers on hiring period equal to contracted workers, which might lead to a wrong definition in the future. The fact is that in some places, workers on hiring period have to work equal to contracted workers but received less wages and less benefits. Lastly, the benefits women workers should receive, for example, they should be paid when on a maternity leave and there should be a separate restroom of men and women.
Dr. Jaturong Pengnorapat, Advisor of Labour Minister, said that for the requests, MOL will take a quick action, especially about the public hearing, as it has direct concern toward workers. For other part that can not be in operation right now, involved institutions are solving the problem as fast as possible. In the past, Labour Ministry pays special attention to the workers. Today, there has been a changed in many policies such as to set up a committee of Social Security appointed from workers who are not part of any union as a member of committee and will give a chance to workers to be involved in making other concerned decision.