Rights of workers ‘weakened’

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM, 
WASAMON AUDJARINT 
THE NATION

 

Thousands of labourers rally for Labour Day in Bangkok yesterday, calling on the government with a 10-point petition demanding better welfare as well as improvements in their working and living conditions.

 

Unions and labour groups slam junta despite hike in minimum wage.

 

AS WORKERS took part in Labour Day events across Thailand yesterday, labour rights groups stressed that unjust employment and the depletion of employees’ power was undermining the well-being of the Thai workforce.

 

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday promised to improve conditions for workers nationwide and said the government has already raised the minimum wage up to 5 per cent as a May Day gift to all Thai labourers.

 

But unionists said labour rights violations were not yet solved and the “totalitarian” administration installed by National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) was making the problem worse.

 

 

The Labour Congress of Thailand and the Textile Industry and Leatherworks’ union jointly released a statement yesterday urging the junta to return power to the people by stepping down and holding the election this year. This would improve the livelihood of workers and make a better society for all citizens on the principles of liberty, equality, fraternity and human rights.

 

The joint statement insisted that the sovereignty must belong to the people and ordered the NCPO to hand power back to the people concerning politics, economics and culture.

 

On politics, the labour groups called for the election within this year, revocation of all NCPO orders, a guarantee of the right for the workers to cast a ballot at their workplace, and cancellation of the social security pension policy amendment.

 

On economics, there were demands on the enforcement of progressive tax collection and an assurance of a proper wage structure for all workers.

 

On the cultural aspect, the unions pressed for reforms in the education system, free education for all, adequate state welfare and the establishment of social security specialised hospitals.

 

 

Four labour rights defenders were taken into police custody yesterday without charge during the peaceful demonstration at the United States Embassy in Bangkok. They were seeking mitigation measures on labour rights violations against workers of General Motors (GM) Thailand.

 

The four arrested activists were Assembly of the Poor (AOP) executive officer on labour law Boonyuen Sukmai, head of GM Thailand Workers Union Naruphon Meemuan, union coordinators Chanchai Thoopmongkol and Natin Chaonsri.

 

They were arrested after police claimed that they were no longer permitted to take part in the public gathering, although Boonyuen informed officers that the group had notified authorities two days in advance as per the legal requirement for arranging a peaceful demonstration. As well, the group had advised the embassy of their plans.

 

 

Boonyuen said police took them to Lumpini Police Station for interrogation and checked their criminal records. They were all later released without charge.

 

Around 70 members of GM Thailand Workers Union participated in the march to the US embassy on Wireless Road. They intended to submit petitions to the US government and General Motors Company Head Office to ask for help on what they described as the unjust treatment of 116 GM Thailand’s workers.

 

Police initially did not allow marchers to walk to the embassy and only allowed three representatives of the union to enter the embassy to submit their petition.

 

 

Boonyuen said protesters were eventually allowed to gather in front of the embassy and representatives allowed to hand over their petition.

 

 “We asked the US government to closely monitor the investment from their country in Thailand, investigate the labour rights violations by General Motors’ subsidiaries, ensure compliance with ILO Conventions, and forward our petition to General Motors headquarters in America,” Boonyuen said.

 

He said that there was still no protection for workers against lock-out measures, unjust lay-offs, and unfair treatment at work.

 

Meanwhile, Prayut proclaimed his love to all workers and stated that the government has given a bigger May Day present than previous years to workers nationwide, with an improved minimum wage and adjustments to social security and retirement systems.

 

“Please be patient. Labour is significant to develop the country.

 

. Labour is human capital which the government has paid attention to,” Prayut said during his weekly press briefing.

 

“I love everyone. I understand your problems but we have to take it one step at a time and take investment, economy and other things into consideration,” he said.

 

He pointed out that due to the limited budget, not all workers’ problems can be solved at once. He asked workers to understand the situation that the government faced, as the country also has to compete with other nations to attract investors by providing tax benefits and ensuring a low minimum wage.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30344409

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-02

'I love everyone,' lied Prayut, as he made the shape of a gun with his fingers, indicating how really he would like to shoot everyone.

 

Hand me the sick bag. I am not sure how much longer I can look at that smug face or that mean mouth of his, from which nothing but lies and insults to our intelligence belch forth.

 

 

 

Edited May 1, 20188 yr by Eligius

How do you know when little p is lying?

His mouth is open, and his lips are moving.

57 minutes ago, Eligius said:

'I love everyone,' lied Prayut, as he made the shape of a gun with his fingers, indicating how really he would like to shoot everyone.

 

Hand me the sick bag. I am not sure how much longer I can look at that smug face or that mean mouth of his, from which nothing but lies and insults to our intelligence belch forth.

 

 

 

 

I was wondering what that hand gesture meant?

 

I'd have never guessed it was supposed to mean a gun.

 

5 minutes ago, watcharacters said:

 

I was wondering what that hand gesture meant?

 

I'd have never guessed it was supposed to mean a gun.

 

His hand gesture is probably intended to mean something nice, like 'love' or suchlike - but I felt it looked more like the gesture of a man holding a gun to the nation's head than anything else!

7 minutes ago, Eligius said:

His hand gesture is probably intended to mean something nice, like 'love' or suchlike - but I felt it looked more like the gesture of a man holding a gun to the nation's head than anything else!

 

And the photo second from the bottom in the OP looks like the fellow is either pulling something by a chain around his neck or else is putting the chain around his neck in the act of strangling himself.   Strange photo indeed.

2 minutes ago, watcharacters said:

 

And the photo second from the bottom in the OP looks like the fellow is either pulling something by a chain around his neck or else is putting the chain around his neck in the act of strangling himself.   Strange photo indeed.

Ha ha! So true. I love your comment, Watcharacters: 'many a true word spoken in jest'!

Hurry General and get those new protester laws up and running I think you can see problems ahead !

" He pointed out that due to the limited budget, not all workers’ problems can be solved at once. He asked workers to understand the situation that the government faced, as the country also has to compete with other nations to attract investors by providing tax benefits and ensuring a low minimum wage."

And that sums up his attitude to these workers in 5 words.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Meanwhile, Prayut proclaimed his love to all workers and stated that the government has given a bigger May Day present than previous years to workers nationwide, with an improved minimum wage and adjustments to social security and retirement systems.

And yet you must give yourself accolades. 

Labours are not slaves. If you are not happy with the working conditions, you are free to leave and go elsewhere.

4 hours ago, Eligius said:

His hand gesture is probably intended to mean something nice, like 'love' or suchlike - but I felt it looked more like the gesture of a man holding a gun to the nation's head than anything else!

A lot of Gangs have Different Hand Gestures and funny Moves,,,, You look at some movies and Music Clips,,,,,He maybe started a New Thai Gang  

demands are hard when the country doesnt have a fully working tax regime, to fulfill several of the demands the govt would have to raise taxes and make many more that currently dont pay tax start paying it. Demanding wage hikes without giving anything back is hard, it is also hard when employers put profits before workers, there has to be agreement between both workers and employers, both have to give something for it to work but workers also have to realize that with this the cost of living also rises to cover the extra costs involved in meeting demands. Unfortunately Thailand does not really have any neutral agency to control wages or cost of living/cpi, you cant effect one without the other reacting to it

23 minutes ago, seajae said:

Unfortunately Thailand does not really have any neutral agency to control wages or cost of living/cpi, you cant effect one without the other reacting to it

Wasn't the point of the coup to reform, bring happiness and fairness?   Are you saying the coup failed to do these things ?

1 hour ago, seajae said:

to fulfill several of the demands the govt

The government can 1) reduce its costs in areas such as the military, promotional infrastructure projects requiring loans from foreign governments, civil service pay raises, free luxury housing for court officials, etc. and 2) increase detection of ALL government corruption.

On 5/1/2018 at 4:29 PM, Eligius said:

His hand gesture is probably intended to mean something nice, like 'love' or suchlike - but I felt it looked more like the gesture of a man holding a gun to the nation's head than anything else!

The hand sign looks directly opposite of the middle finger 'screw you'................ SO....... It must be 'Screw me'............................