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August 14, 2001 - Labour Movement Petitions Government About Labour Relations Act

Thai Labor Solidarity Committee joins hands with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand State Enterprise Labor Union and 46 allied organizations to hand over a petition to the Prime Minister calling for the abolishment of the draft of the Labor Relation Act proposed by the former government and to replace it with the worker’s version.

On 14 August, 2001 at 9.30 am., at the Government House, 30 delegates from labor unions, NGOs, the Thai Labor Solidarity Committee and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand State Enterprise Labor Union and 46 allied organizations submitted a petition to Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra at Government House to demand that the government:

1)Abolish the draft of the Labor Relations Act which was approved by the Chuan government and which Thaksin government has now passed to the Royal Decree Commission. The Thai labor movement has continuously objected to this draft as there are many provisions of the draft which violate workers' rights to negotiate and which infringe upon labor unions' rights. This will in turn harm labor and lead to conflicts in the labor relations systems. The draft was also formed without participation of workers.

2) Accept the draft of the Labor Relations Act which has been proposed by the labour movement, which was drafted in accordance to the will and the needs of workers and pass it to the process of legislation to enact it as a decree.

The government, then, sent a delegate, Gen. Dr. Chaisunk Ketuthasn from the secretary of the Prime Minister’s office office to receive the petition and meet with the labor delegates. Gen. Dr. Chaisunk stated that "in accordance with the legislation process, the government has to propose this draft even it was drafted by the former government because this government is committed to following through on the process.” He again stated that the draft has been in the consideration of the Royal Decree Commission which now already passed the first stage, so it is difficult to go backward because it will delay the whole process. Gen. Dr. Chaisunk then offered to "let the representatives from labour attend a seminar which will be organized at the stage of amending the bill in which the 5 proposed drafts [proposed by political parties, by the previous government and by the labour movement] would be able to be combined together." However, delegates felt that a seminar would only afford them a chance to change small technicalities in the law, when the main principles of the government’s draft which weaken labour unions, would go unchanged.

One of the labor delegates, Dr. Bunlue Hengprasit, argued that "Considering the will of workers, the Labor Relations Act version of the Chuan government has to be abolished.” There was very clear evidence that Mr. Sutham Sengprathum, a Thai Rak Thai' s MP, made a civil contract with the labour movement during his election campaigning that if his party was elected to form the government, the Labor Relation Act version of the workers would be passed instead of the government’s version. However, the government’s position today reflects their true spirit. Therefore the Thaksin government has to abolish the shameful Labour Relation Act draft which now in the hands of the Royal Decree Commission and has to keep the promise with the labour movement by approval the Labor Relations Act draft version of the labor instead of the government’s version".

At the end of the meeting, Gen. Dr. Chaisunk promised to coordinate with Mr.Sutham Sengprathum; Deputy Minister of Labour, Laddawan Wongsriwong and Minister of Labour, Dej Boonlong and will inform the delegates about the working progress and the decision within one month.

July 30th, 2001 - 47 Organizations Rally at Government House for Wage Increases, Social Security

Workers pay respects to the Democracy Monument before proceeding to Government House

Representatives from 47 private and public sector labor unions and people's organizations marched from the Democracy Monument to rally in front of Government house, calling for a 180 baht minimum wage for the whole country, as well as increased social security. Over 1500 workers were joined by students and representatives of the urban poor in their push.

The workers began their march by paying commemoration to the October 16th massacre at the Democracy Monument. The crowd then marched to Government House, chanting their trademark chant: "What do we want? Just wages? How Much? 180 baht per day? When? Now!"

The rally was a continuation of an effort started in April to bring changes to government policy to meet the needs of workers. On April 23rd, workers submitted demands to Labour Minister, Dej Boonlong. On May 29th, 2000 workers marched to the Ministry of Labour to pressure the Ministry to respond to their demands. The demands are as follows:

1. Announce the implementation of unemployment insurance and increase social security for children of employees from 150 baht to 300 baht per month. Allow labour unions to inspect medical services provided by hospitals that take part in the government's healthcare plan. And, expand coverage of the social security system to workplaces that hire one or more employees.
2. Cease using wages zones and raise the minimum wage for all of Thailand to 180 baht per day.
3. Cancel the draft of the Labour Relations Act that the government is currently using and implement a draft of the Labour Relations Act supported by workers.
4. Solve the problems of Thai Krieng Durable Union through forcing the employer to permit the 390 locked out workers to return to work.

Members of the Art and Culture chapter of the Student Federation of Thailand entertain the crowd

A representative from the Network for the Urban Poor spoke on the government's inaction and expressed his support: "Workers and urban poor - our problems are the same. Thaksin says in 10 years, there will be no more poverty. I wonder if he means that in 10 years, all the poor will have died! We are glad to be here and to support your demands. Whatever group is facing injustice - whether it is in the public or private sector - we have to join together."

Somsak Kosaisook, secretary general of the State Railway Worker's Union, pointed out that what worker's were asking for were only things that the government had promised them. "We are not a bunch of mischievous people. We have heard government officials speak, now we want them to make good on their promises. We are only demanding for what you promised us!"

During Thai Rak Thai's (the ruling party) election campaign, Sutharn Sangprathum, a Thai Rak Thai MP, promised an audience of workers that if Thai Rak Thai became the ruling government party, the government would implement an unemployment insurance scheme and increase wages.

A delegation of worker representatives that met with government officials during the rally reported that there had been little progress, except the government's promise to consider and respond to the demand for unemployment insurance within the month.

Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, of the Center for Labour Information Service and Training, criticized the government for not heeding its promises, especially MPs like Sutharn who had once been student activists. He also spoke out against the injustice which pervades the system:

"Thai capitalists are able to go on golf vacations in other countries, while we assemble electronic pieces in the factories as our bosses yell insults like, 'hurry up, Buffalo, work faster!' 165 baht per day is far below a just living standard. The money that is in the unemployment fund is our money, it is the people's money."

The rally closed with music provided by members of the Student Federation of Thailand and a vow from workers to keep the pressure up.

May 29th, 2001 - 1400 Workers March To Ministry Of Labour To Demand Unemployment Insurance And 180 Baht Per Day Wage

Crowd Burns Effigy Of Minister Of Labour, Dej Boonlong

1400 workers marched from Victory Monument to the Ministry of Labour to demanding an answer to their demands for unemployment insurance and expansion of social security for employees children, a 180 baht per day minimum wage across the country, a resolution of the struggle of Thai Krieng Durable Textile Union and that the government cease using the present version of the Labour Relations Act and use a draft of the law supported by the labor movement. The demands were submitted to the government on the 23rd of April.

Workers from the industrial areas of Samutprakan, Nawanakorn, Om Noi Om Yai and Ayuthaya gathered at about 6 pm at the monument, carrying banners and chanting, "What do we want? Living Wages! How much? 180 baht per day! When do we want it? Now!" The march was led by the Electricity Generating Authority State Enterprise Labour Union of Thailand, with about 30 participating organizations. Ladybird Garment Union and Fair Textile Union from Samutprakan each turned out about 80 members. At about 8:30 the energized crowd gathered in front of the Ministry of Labour, demanding that Dej Boonlong, the Minister of Labour emerge and address their demands. The crowd also successfully demanded that the gates of the Ministry of Labour be opened to allow the members of Thai Krieng Durable Textile Union, who have been protesting at the Ministry, to join the demonstration.

While a delegation from the protest went inside to meet with Ministry of Labour officials, workers from various unions spoke to the crowd about the problems they have been facing. One woman described not being able to afford boxed milk for her children on the wages she makes. Many companies are relocating to upcountry provinces to take take advantage of lower legal wages. Meanwhile, workers in those provinces pay the same price for a carton of milk.

When the delegation who had met with Ministry officials emerged, the organizers gave Ladawan Wongseewong, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare an opportunity to address their demands. While she mentioned trying to expand existing social security to cover workers in places employing between 1 and 9 people, she said that expanding the amount of social security coverage for employee's children required more study. She proposed that the owner of Thai Krieng Durable Textile Company pay the locked out workers 7 months of severance, as opposed to their legally mandated 10 months, a compromise deemed not acceptable by those present. These responses led event coordinator Somyot Pruksakasemsuk to declare, "It is easy to conclude that the government has not responded satisfactorily to a single thing that we are asking for."

Workers prepare to burn an effigy of Minister of Labour, Dej Boonlong

At that point, the disappointed but excited crowd held a mock cremation ceremony for Dej Boonlong, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare and Textile company owner. Union members from Nawanakorn laid an effigy of Dej on the cremation platform, recited the appropriate blessings and then burned him. Demonstrators were invited to burn their trash along with Dej's body.

The crowd then dispersed, valuing to continue their struggle and monitor the government's progress on their demands in a month's time.

Background information on the May 29th Protest:

Since Thailand's economic crisis, workers have experienced severe layoffs - a problem which the previous government was not able to solve. For the year 2001 it is expected that 240,000 workers will be laid off, contributing to an unemployment rate of 4.3%. Therefore, the labour movement is demanding that the present government issue an executive order to establish unemployment insurance through increasing the contributions of employers, employees and the government to the Social Security Fund by 1% which at present has over 100 billion baht. Unemployment insurance will help support people out of work, preventing them from facing poverty and will help reduce pressing social problems such as crime, drugs and prostitution which often emerge out of economic disparity that results from unemployment.

While the price of consumer goods has become more expensive, the 165 baht per day wages which workers receive is not enough to support a security in living for workers and their families. Workers face difficulties with everyday living costs. Therefore we are demanding that the government raise the minimum wage to 180 baht per day across the country.

Aside from this, for many years, workers have been faced with the problems of employers violating their rights of freedom of association and organizing as trade unions. This has caused a significant decline in negotiating power for workers to improve working conditions and to protect those rights of association. The Ministry of Labour continues to use a draft of the Labour Relations Act of 1998 which has reduced the bargaining power of unions in many ways, including, for example, requiring the advisors of labour unions to register along with the union and giving the employer the right to bring in replacement workers in the event of a strike. The Thai labour movement therefore views the Labour Relations Act as a law supporting the violation of union rights and has been opposed to the Act from the very beginning of its implementation.

Both raising salaries and providing unemployment insurance is a way to raise the floor for the population and reduce problems of poverty which is consistent with the policies of the current Administration. These actions will improve the purchasing power of the population and stimulate consumption and economic expansion, helping to prevent another economic crisis. The labour movement objects to the government's solving of economic problems through borrowing money from foreign sources, forcing the public to bear the debt burden and submit to the will of the IMF and World Bank.

In the name of the Electricity Generating Authority State Enterprise Labour Union of Thailand and the 29 supporting organizations, such as the Chemical Workers Union Alliance, Young Christian Workers, Women Workers for Liberation and unions from Pratumthanee, Samutprakan, and Samutsakon, we demand that the government:

1) Announce the implementation of Unemployment Insurance and increase social security for the children of employees from 150 baht to 300 baht per month and to not tax social security.
2) Cease using wage zones and raise the minimum wage for all of Thailand to 180 baht per day.
3) Cancel the Labour Relations Act draft of the government and implement the Labour Relations Act of workers instead.
4) Solve the problems of Thai Krieng Durable Union through forcing the employer to permit the 390 locked out workers to return to work.

For more information, please contact: Somyot Pruksakasemsuk 01-822-9477, Dr. Banleu Hengprasit 01-400-4628

For more background please see Background and Reasoning for the Campaign.