Background and Reasoning for the Campaign

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 by increasing contributions of employers, employees and the government to the Social Security Fund by 1%. At present the fund contains over 100 billion baht. Unemployment insurance will help support people out of work, prevent them from slipping into poverty and will help reduce pressing social problems such as crime, drugs and prostitution. These problems often emerge out of the 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 secure living standards 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 1975 which has reduced the bargaining power of unions in many ways. This includes, for example, requiring the advisors of labour unions to register at the Ministry of Labour along with the union's they advise, 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.

"For the Future of Our Children" Photo: CLIST

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 and goals 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 huge debt burden and submit to the wills of International Financial Institutions, such as 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 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 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 by 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