Workers Alternative

Ms. Chaleaw Taotong, 55 years old
Former textile worker

The last time I went to the Ministry of Labour I had a chance to talk with an old woman. She was selling sportswear at the canteen of the MOL office. Usually, she has two friends selling sportswear together with her, but on that day her friends did not come and her goods were in smaller numbers than usual.

The conversation started with her working life in Thai Krieng Durable factory. “I began working in the factory in 1969 and I worked there for 30 years until 2000. My last wage was 226 baht per day, and I was dismissed after the strike.”

“The strike was organized on May 30, 2000, we demanded wage increases because the wages had not been increased and other benefits were suspended for four years because the company claimed that it faced business problems. We organized sit-in strikes for 3 months inside the factory. Eventually the workers moved the protest in front of the government house under Mr.Chuan Leekpai’s ruling party. Finally, the workers moved the struggle to the ministry of labour until the case was brought to the labour court. At the time, the workers had no place to live, therefore the ministry of labour provided accommodation around 50 Thai Krieng workers, for the other ones, they found different ways of living. Nowadays, the cases are still in the court, both the company suet against the workers and the workers suet against the company. I don’t know when it will be ended.”

For more details of the Thai Krieng workers struggle, visit
http://www.thailabour.org/campaigns/thaidurable/index.html

She started selling clothes since the struggle at the ministry of labour. At the beginning, her customers were her colleagues and Thai Iyro Garment workers. When she became better-known her customers included the officials in the ministry and people who went to the ministry. She sells her product for about 45 baht ($1.05) per piece and gains a 5 baht (12 cents) profit margin, but she cannot increase the price because everyone knows the going rates. Anyway, she can survive if she sells large amounts and she does not have to pay rent for the shop, which means she doesn’t have much overhead costs.

“Selling is better than working in a factory because I receive money everyday. I know how much I earn. But in the factory I have no freedom and money was paid every 15 days. I’m satisfied with this career because it sustains my living. But, my earnings are not certain, for example, yesterday I received around 700 – 800 baht but today I can sell only one t-shirt. Overall, I can survive and my two sons already have their own career.”

“My customers include workers, people who contact the ministry, trade unions, labour officials and politicians.”

She said that she will go on selling sportswear there until she is not permitted to continue by the ministry. And she said thanks to every official at the ministry, and that they are always nice to her.

For the sportswear, she said that she buys from a couple in her neighborhood in Prapadaeng district of Samutprakarn province. What she does generally is take large amounts of products and keep them in her room inside the area of the MOL. When the sportswear is nearly gone, she orders again. And if there is an urgent order in large amounts, she phones the couple immediately and specifies sizes, colours, printings and numbers and then she can make an appointment with her customers to receive the products.

If anyone is interested in ordering her products, please contact Mr. Pu-chit Taotong (her son), tel. +66 9 687 8739

Chaleaw ‘s products

T-shirts - 45 Baht
Long sleeves 50 baht
Tank top 40 baht
T-shirts in other styles 50 baht
Shorts (Adult) 50 Baht
Shorts (Kid) 35 Baht
Pants 100 Baht