The United States of America's Ambassador to Thailand
US Embassy
Wireless Road
Bangkok

Dear Ambassador,

On behalf of 350 workers of Bed and Bath, we, workers from the Bed and Bath Prestige Company factory in Prapadaeng, urgently request that you raise our case with the Thai government.

Our factory closed its doors in October and the factory owners, Mr. Chaiyapat Phothikamjorn and ms. Uayporn Songpornprasert has disappeared, owing us a great deal of money in back pay and severance pay. Three hundred fifty of us have been stationed at the office of the Ministry of Labour, seeking the Thai government's urgent action on this case.

Our factory supplied the US Market. Customers included Nike, Levi's, Adidas, Reebok, Haddad, for example.

Conditions at tour factory were extremely poor and contravened Thai law and the codes of conduct fo the factory's US customers. On some occasions some of us were expected to work overtime until 5 am and then turn up to work three hours later to start the next shift. At particularly busy times the factory owner put amphetamines in our drinking water so we could work through the night.

Late in October the Thai Labour Ministry ordered Mr. Chaiyapat to pay workers their back wages and warrants were issued for his arrest. Now, a month later, no progress has been made in locating Mr. Chaiyapat and his wife Uayporn's whereabouts.

These dishonourable actions by the Bed and Bath Prestige Company reflect badly on the Thai Garment Industry and on Thai Industry as a whole. They also reflect badly on the US companies who were the customers of this factory, who have been profiting from our exploitation. In the name of justice, we ask you to now play a role in ensuring that we at least receive what we are legally owed.

Please take up our case with the Thai government. Please indicate that very high importance that the US government and US consumers, attach to seeing cases like this investigated fully, speedily and efficiently.

Please also take up this case with the US companies involved. Please ask them to accept their share of responsibility. If the government is unable to locate the factory owner and his assets within a reasonable time, please ask the US customers of the factory to take responsibility for ensuring that we are paid what we are owned.

We look forward to your response to this request.

Sincerely,

Sukitra Ubonkroot Sunee Namso Suthep Phonpaipal
Representative of Bed and Bath workers