Activists emphasize crucial matters at focus

Fresh Spin:

Labour Day saw workers and activists in Bangkok take to the streets, demanding better working conditions and fairer treatment. Parades and gatherings were held citywide, with participants carrying signs and banners to highlight key issues like fairer wage adjustments, maternity leave payments, and overtime pay.

One especially passionate voice came from Panus Thailuan, president of the National Congress of Thai Labour, who rallied at Lan Khon Muang in front of City Hall. His nine-point demand aimed to improve the quality of life for workers, featuring proposals such as:

Establishing a risk insurance fund to safeguard employment and protect against unfair dismissal.
Exempting income tax on severance pay in all cases.
Raising the minimum old-age pension to at least 5,000 baht.
Amending the Labor Ministry's regulation to ensure monthly salaried employees earn 1.5 times their wage for overtime work, equivalent to the rate for daily wage workers.

Other demands included upgrading the Labour Safety Division to a Department of Labour Safety and establishing a working group under the Labour Ministry to monitor demand progress.

According to Mr. Panus, the most pressing concern among the demands was the establishment of a risk insurance fund to shield workers from unjust dismissals and non-payment of severance packages - inspired by repeated instances of employers abandoning businesses, leaving workers high and dry (like the Yarnapund Public Co Ltd case, owing workers over 400 million baht in severance pay).

Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn listened attentively to the proposals, assuring workers their voices weren't falling on deaf ears. He pledged to implement policies promoting comprehensive care for both domestic and international workers, focusing on job and income security. Operating under the principle “everyone must have a job, skills, security, and a good quality of life”, the Minister organized activities for Labour Day, such as free medical check-ups, flu vaccinations, and a job fair offering over 174,000 vacancies.

In the broader context, labor groups are advocating for enhanced freedom of association and collective bargaining rights to strengthen workers' negotiation power with employers. There's an escalating call for the creation of a risk insurance fund to protect workers from unjust dismissals and ensure they receive severance packages when businesses shut down. The push continues for revising the Royal Ordinance Concerning Migrant Workers to better guard their employment contracts and working conditions, extending work permits from two to four years. Lastly, activists are pushing for transforming the Labour Safety Division into a dedicated Department of Labour Safety to improve workplace safety standards[1][2][3][4].

[1] Dr. Becky Faith and Gayatri Khandhadai (2021, April 27). Preliminary Insights: Advocating for Labour Law Reform in Thailand. Asian Journal of Human Rights.

[2] Andy Hall (2021, March 31). Thailand must step up action against labour rights violations amid COVID-19 pandemic. Asia Times.

[3] Alejandro Reyes (2021, April 16). Thailand Extends Deadline for Migrant Workers to Renew Work Permits and Visas. The Diplomat.

[4] Uttaya Yimsa-ngar (2021, May 1). Bangkok Labour Day Demands Include Risk Insurance Fund to Protect Workers. Khaosod English.

In light of the ongoing advocacy for labor rights, it's crucial that the workplace-wellness and health-and-and-wellness perspectives are considered when addressing the demands, such as the establishment of a risk insurance fund and the improvement of workplace safety standards, to ensure the physical, mental, and financial well-being of workers.
Additionally, to foster a comprehensive care approach for workers, the Ministry's policies should also encompass science-based strategies, like education and awareness programs on health and safety in the workplace, which could contribute to a healthier and more productive workforce in Bangkok.