People encouraged to tip off the authority about illegal actions of factories

The Ministry of Industry calls for people to provide evidence concerning factories’ illegal actions which pose threat to the environment to the authority. If the authority can file lawsuits against the factory, those who gave the evidence will receive a special reward.

Deputy Minister of Industry Piyabutr Cholvijarn (ปิยะบุตร ชลวิจารณ์) reveals that the ministry has amended the 1992 Factory Act to address people’s participation in preventing pollution problems caused by factories. It has instructed the Department of Industrial Works and provincial industrial offices across the country to initiate projects to campaign for people’s participation.

Director-General of the Department of Industrial Works, Ratchada Singkalavanit (รัชดา สิงคาลวณิช) says the ministry will grant a reward of 100,000 baht to those who provide evidence leading to factories’ illegal actions. Moreover, they will receive 15 percent of the fine that the factory has to pay to the authority within five days, starting from the first day that the authority properly receives the fine.

Interested people can contact provincial industrial offices for more information or the Department of Industrial Works at 0-2202-3994 during office time.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 27 March 2007

So whistle blowing is to be encouraged....great! About time too.....but who will protect the whistle blowers?

So whistle blowing is to be encouraged....great! About time too.....but who will protect the whistle blowers?

Nobody will protect the whistle blowers and the whistle blowers will not collect any money because the factory owners will pay no fines, they will pay the government officials which is cheaper.

The last effective efforts were by I TV exposure when whistle blowers contacted them and they broadcast their investigations but that ended when Taksin bought the station.