Sad Story Of Injured Burmese Construction Worker In Chiang Mai

[eek]

I didnt hold back. I already sent off two emails. Still awaiting reply.

(If you had read my post after the first one i wrote, you may have realised that)

Edited November 3, 2007 by eek

[Acquiesce]

Tragic story, if someone PM's me the e-mail i will fire one off also.

Cheers

Acq.

Edited November 3, 2007 by Acquiesce

[justicefornangnoom]

Dear friends.

Please let me know any other email address also, maybe an international one, not just local one, and if you get any reply. This is a good idea for now. Is the email address you got reply to the one on this site, http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/chiangmai/shangrila Ah <deleted>, that hotel looks so beautiful, the exploitation of it all!!! Maybe lets just not email (SLCM at shangri-la DOT com , see website), but also phone and fax, ask them what they are doing about Nang Noom case. They are preparing their launch, so Monday to Friday they will be well distrubed by the phone calls at their posh office right (Tel: (053) 253 888 or international +66 (0)53 253 888, Fax: (053) 253 800 or international +66 (0)53 253800). Lets start calling, faxing, ringing, and all that. Maybe just few people, but if phone calls often, maybe they will start to realise it could damage their opening... I just got on the phone and left a rude message on their answerphone demanding justice for nang noom, they only work Mon-Fri 9 to 5pm.

But can anyone help with online petition, maybe linked to sending emails to the Shangrila? And TV, Thai TV, or any media contacts? Bangkok Post is great for us falang (or English readers), but hey, it is not reaching most of the Thai population right? this is not farang country after all. I am serious about protests, maybe us farang cannot be the ones organising, but if this NGO group organise, we can go along right...

I dont know Wo Hup Singaporean or Thai, anyone know? I guess they are responsible also, as well as Shangrila right? And then her employer, I guess they probably some little guy at the bottom of the chain right? But after this, I asked my friend in Chiangmai (who is still mourning he not invite to the opening). He said he passed that site for long time, over one year, and was 100s of workers each day coming in and out, the construction companies involved cannot be that small with such a big project right? Surely they should be paying?

Lets get some movement going here... justice for nang noom!

A (ever more) concerned blogger.

[justicefornangnoom]

DEAR FRIENDS, I SENT SHANGRI-LA THIS EMAIL to the email address on site I mentioned before... maybe if you not have time, copy and send also...

Dear Shangri-la Chiangmai, I was disgraced by the news of Nang Noom printed in Bangkok Post 28th October... how can you let such things happen? The poor lady did not even have a wheelchair recently, why did you refuse her assistance just a small wheelchair, she helped build your hotel?? It brought tears to my eyes Shangrila could do such a terrible thing. I sometimes stay in your hotel, but I will not anymore, I promise to you!! Do you know the situation of those who flee to Thailand from Burma? They already have many dificulties... http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...p;#entry1631899 is a blog on Nang Noom's case, please view it to see the upset it has caused amongst expat community in Thailand. We will take action. Also, please see attached news I downloaded from the internet so you can see that your hotel is becoming very famous prior to its launch. I would kindly request Shangri-la immediately take action to compensate Nang Noom. Morally your behaviour is reprehensible. Very concerned person requesting actionJustice for Nang Noom!

[justicefornangnoom]

Hill16,

As you see, this story moves me very much. Can we get it put on the front of thaivisa.com in some way, to get more people to read? This site has power also right? Can thaivisa.com organise a petition or something?

Concerned blogger.

Hi folks,

This is an opportunity for Thaivisa as the largest Expat website in the world to use it's infuence to do some good for this lady.

Moderators, can a petition be signed by members acting as one group rather than sending individual emails? Maybe whoever receives the petition, be it the Shangri-La hotel group or the Thai SSO, would be more inclined to do something constructive?

Perhaps this topic can also be posted in General Topics for more TV members to see and act upon?

I hope we can do something as a group to help this lady.

Kind regards,

Hill16

[tayto]

Bloody hel_l, you're a bit too much.

People like you, give NGO and do gooders a bad name.

I suggest you go and protest outside the hotel and I'll count the seconds until you are deported.

People here are concerned about Nang Noom's situation but the action that you are proposing will not help her.

[justicefornangnoom]

Man, listen, these NGO's are doing a good job sometimes, but we have to support them. They are hardly a tower of strength in Thailand right? Yes, if have emails this is great, it not much effort. But to get the news, we need to do more than send emails right?? The NGO meet with Government on tuesday, you think they have success?? Not alone... they have more success because that lady write a good article huh?

But listen, if you send the email, your my friend na :-) We can disagree on approach.

The protest can be legal, it is allowed... besides, I am retired farang, I bring money here and generally live in peace. Why they deport me, I am old now.

A concerned Bangkok blogger

Bloody hel_l, you're a bit too much.

People like you, give NGO and do gooders a bad name.

I suggest you go and protest outside the hotel and I'll count the seconds until you are deported.

People here are concerned about Nang Noom's situation but the action that you are proposing will not help her.

[Acquiesce]

DEAR FRIENDS, I SENT SHANGRI-LA THIS EMAIL to the email address on site I mentioned before... maybe if you not have time, copy and send also...

Dear Shangri-la Chiangmai, I was disgraced by the news of Nang Noom printed in Bangkok Post 28th October... how can you let such things happen? The poor lady did not even have a wheelchair recently, why did you refuse her assistance just a small wheelchair, she helped build your hotel?? It brought tears to my eyes Shangrila could do such a terrible thing. I sometimes stay in your hotel, but I will not anymore, I promise to you!! Do you know the situation of those who flee to Thailand from Burma? They already have many dificulties... http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...p;#entry1631899 is a blog on Nang Noom's case, please view it to see the upset it has caused amongst expat community in Thailand. We will take action. Also, please see attached news I downloaded from the internet so you can see that your hotel is becoming very famous prior to its launch. I would kindly request Shangri-la immediately take action to compensate Nang Noom. Morally your behaviour is reprehensible. Very concerned person requesting actionJustice for Nang Noom!

I think that by providing the link to this thread as you have done in your e-mail has just made any chance of these e-mails being taken seriously, they will have a quick look here and think 'oh well, it's not concerned customers thinking for themselves, it's just a few people being spured on by others on aN internet forum, probably never stay in the hotel anyway'.

I would suggest that if you are truely concerned for this lady then you should think carefuly before taking any actions, so far i would say that by sending that e-mail that you printed here, you have only served to damage any credibility of further e-mails from members of the public.

I know you are concerned and your intentions are good but in my opinion you are starting to do more harm than good.

Regards.

Acq.

[justicefornangnoom]

Thanks for the comments. I also very concern after reading this story. But I respect your comment and idea of course Acq. We all want to help Nang Noom....

Then in that case, people who read this site, they will feel free to carry on sending the individual emails also, of course this is good idea. This is also a good way to do it, as you say. It takes more effort to send individual mail, as you did, as I did, as many people did. And as customers of Shangrila will.

But for those with no time (even in my retirement me), they can send the email that I copied, change little bit of course, or we can still try to set up the petition? It is not that if they get copied emails they will think not enough time to do emails, why would they think like this. I think they are not stupid, they will also see that people are concerned and sending email, but they dont have time to write their own. Shangri-la use the internet, they know public opinion expressed on internet in many forms. Whether individual emails, or a copied email or petition, it has the same affect right... people want them to take responsibility, but many different ways to express that.

I sometimes stay at Shangri-la, I AM A CONCERNED CUSTOMER, thats why I come here to talk, and I will be monitoring these events. I also see the email above posted of other problems with this hotel in the past. Lets keep sharing this information. If there is not a resolution, I will think carefully about staying at Shangrila again, and we all can also. And those who take part, they can say in Shangrila in future...

Shangri-la can look here, and we must keep saying what we feel, how we are angry at what has happened here. They can see... We can talk about methods of getting them to take responsibility too, but lets just make the statements of anger and disgust in whatever way we can also right? NANG NOOM case is not fair, she should be assisted by Shangrila. And yes they should look at this site, see the opinion of people towards this terrible event. They will google anyway and find the site, this is how I found it, it is top of google list :-) Shangri-la GM in Chiangmai will not be stupid, he should rightly be concerned about how this will affect the opening. Anyone got the date of the opening yet ?

There are now a few blogs on internet in thai also, friends, lets keep going! What do you feel about Nang Noom case, about responsibility that is lacking???

Lets carry on in justice for nang noom.

DEAR FRIENDS, I SENT SHANGRI-LA THIS EMAIL to the email address on site I mentioned before... maybe if you not have time, copy and send also...

Dear Shangri-la Chiangmai, I was disgraced by the news of Nang Noom printed in Bangkok Post 28th October... how can you let such things happen? The poor lady did not even have a wheelchair recently, why did you refuse her assistance just a small wheelchair, she helped build your hotel?? It brought tears to my eyes Shangrila could do such a terrible thing. I sometimes stay in your hotel, but I will not anymore, I promise to you!! Do you know the situation of those who flee to Thailand from Burma? They already have many dificulties... is a blog on Nang Noom's case, please view it to see the upset it has caused amongst expat community in Thailand. We will take action. Also, please see attached news I downloaded from the internet so you can see that your hotel is becoming very famous prior to its launch. I would kindly request Shangri-la immediately take action to compensate Nang Noom. Morally your behaviour is reprehensible. Very concerned person requesting actionJustice for Nang Noom!

I think that by providing the link to this thread as you have done in your e-mail has just made any chance of these e-mails being taken seriously, they will have a quick look here and think 'oh well, it's not concerned customers thinking for themselves, it's just a few people being spured on by others on aN internet forum, probably never stay in the hotel anyway'.

I would suggest that if you are truely concerned for this lady then you should think carefuly before taking any actions, so far i would say that by sending that e-mail that you printed here, you have only served to damage any credibility of further e-mails from members of the public.

I know you are concerned and your intentions are good but in my opinion you are starting to do more harm than good.

Regards.

Acq.

[eek]

Guys, i havent received a reply email (one was returned by postmaster).

Those of you who had successful replies, can you please forward the email address to me via pm, or on here.

Unfortunately it just doesnt seem obvious to me where I should send the email(s) to

Many tnx.

[justicefornangnoom]

Brothers and sisters,

http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/chiangmai/shangrila is a site of the hotel. Here they have the email address of the hotel (SLCM at shangri-la DOT com , see website as cannot type here i think). Phone and fax also.

Good luck my friend. I have not recieved a reply at his address yet. If others have had more success with other address, please share with us.

Concerned blogger from BKK

Guys, i havent received a reply email (one was returned by postmaster).

Those of you who had successful replies, can you please forward the email address to me via pm, or on here.

Unfortunately it just doesnt seem obvious to me where I should send the email(s) to

Many tnx.

[dog412]

sorry to see the lack of responsibility in this situation being diverted from the country involved. Thailand is the "directly" responsible entity, since they are responsible for the laws governing the labour rights, and those that attempt to enact better labour laws are depend on the Governments directives. sorry, labour in Thailand is the responsibility of Thailand to protect. to those that still attempt to believe the status quo that Thailand is a POOR country, look at the figures for this foreign labour. something is very wrong here. can you guess what it is?

[stevemiddie]

sorry to see the lack of responsibility in this situation being diverted from the country involved. Thailand is the "directly" responsible entity, since they are responsible for the laws governing the labour rights, and those that attempt to enact better labour laws are depend on the Governments directives. sorry, labour in Thailand is the responsibility of Thailand to protect. to those that still attempt to believe the status quo that Thailand is a POOR country, look at the figures for this foreign labour. something is very wrong here. can you guess what it is?

Errrrrrrrr what?

This thread is about a particular incident. What you are talking about is a generalisation and as such is not helpul in this thread.

Edited November 4, 2007 by stevemiddie

[dog412]

sorry to see the lack of responsibility in this situation being diverted from the country involved. Thailand is the "directly" responsible entity, since they are responsible for the laws governing the labour rights, and those that attempt to enact better labour laws are depend on the Governments directives. sorry, labour in Thailand is the responsibility of Thailand to protect. to those that still attempt to believe the status quo that Thailand is a POOR country, look at the figures for this foreign labour. something is very wrong here. can you guess what it is?

Errrrrrrrr what?

This thread is about a particular incident. What you are talking about is a generalisation and as such is not helpul in this thread.

Thailand should be held accountable to handle these situations that occur. are you asking that every corporation deal with all liabilities differently, accountable to no legal precedents? no, something is very wrong here.

[justicefornangnoom]

Great comments DOG 412... great to have people share the issues here, the important issues, lets get people speaking.

I agree, how can this lady go for almost 1 year without any compensation. dam_n as hel_l, the company should assist, but when you get companies like this, Shangrila, whatever the contractor Wo Hup, they are morally reprehensible not to assist, the lady did not even have a wheelchair, but man, what about the Government??? The article said when Nang Noom needed wheelchair, no one, even government department, would assist? She had an accident building this country, through no fault of her own, and not even a 2000B wheelchair?? Both CAPITAL and the GOVERNMENT wont assist???

Chaos theory rules a little for me though... I think get those emails flowing to Shangrila (chain emails, individual emails, whatever according to your style, lets not get too het up about this), Wo Hup (for some compensation to the poor lady), but give this NGO do-gooders in Bangkok the support for what they are doing to get the laws changed here. 2 million migrants Ms Erika said, no protection under law for workplacde compensation. SCANDELLOUS!!

Can we get an online petition, does anyone have skills for this, please help to set one up... then everyone who views this sign can just sign up quickly to express support... We can address petition in Thai and English, both to SHANGRILA and Thai Government Social Security Office?? Or if we cannot agree on that, two petitions, one to Shangrila, and one to SSO!!

What does everyone think?

Justice for Nang Noom (and for all the labour in Thailand!!)

sorry to see the lack of responsibility in this situation being diverted from the country involved. Thailand is the "directly" responsible entity, since they are responsible for the laws governing the labour rights, and those that attempt to enact better labour laws are depend on the Governments directives. sorry, labour in Thailand is the responsibility of Thailand to protect. to those that still attempt to believe the status quo that Thailand is a POOR country, look at the figures for this foreign labour. something is very wrong here. can you guess what it is?

Errrrrrrrr what?

This thread is about a particular incident. What you are talking about is a generalisation and as such is not helpul in this thread.

Thailand should be held accountable to handle these situations that occur. are you asking that every corporation deal with all liabilities differently, accountable to no legal precedents? no, something is very wrong here.

[jett07]

I just got information about this case from emails from friends. It is good to see the conversation going on here. I agree with many of you, but DOG and JUSTICEFORNANGNOOM, I think what you say is very important. Actually, this case is very sad, but is symbolic of bigger problems right in this country, and over the world for labour i think, right?

Dont worry about methods, this is just a blog. Get talking about the issues, it is good and I am happy to read.

Cheers.

sorry to see the lack of responsibility in this situation being diverted from the country involved. Thailand is the "directly" responsible entity, since they are responsible for the laws governing the labour rights, and those that attempt to enact better labour laws are depend on the Governments directives. sorry, labour in Thailand is the responsibility of Thailand to protect. to those that still attempt to believe the status quo that Thailand is a POOR country, look at the figures for this foreign labour. something is very wrong here. can you guess what it is?

[jett07]

I agree, some great stuff on this discussion. As noted above, I sent the email to the address taken from website http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/chiangmai/shangrila and got the following (i think automated) reply. But I thank Mr Dailey for replying to the email, even if automated, this is a good sign... if you are upset or want to show concern, also fire away the emails...

----------------------------------------------------------

Dear Very Concerned Person Requesting Action,

Greetings from Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai.

Thank you for your email and comments in reference to the recent article in the Bangkok Post about the incident that occurred on the construction site last year.

We are very saddened by Nang Noom's situation and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention. We can assure you that we will be investigating this thoroughly with the contractor which employed Nang Noom.

Sincerely yours,

Philip Dailey, General Manager (philip DOT dailey @ shangrila DOT com EMAIL)Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai, 89/8 Chang Klan Road, Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 50100

I just got information about this case from emails from friends. It is good to see the conversation going on here. I agree with many of you, but DOG and JUSTICEFORNANGNOOM, I think what you say is very important. Actually, this case is very sad, but is symbolic of bigger problems right in this country, and over the world for labour i think, right?

Dont worry about methods, this is just a blog. Get talking about the issues, it is good and I am happy to read.

Cheers.

sorry to see the lack of responsibility in this situation being diverted from the country involved. Thailand is the "directly" responsible entity, since they are responsible for the laws governing the labour rights, and those that attempt to enact better labour laws are depend on the Governments directives. sorry, labour in Thailand is the responsibility of Thailand to protect. to those that still attempt to believe the status quo that Thailand is a POOR country, look at the figures for this foreign labour. something is very wrong here. can you guess what it is?

[justicefornangnoom]

Hi all,

I forgot to tell, I got same message as above... but we can still talk about the other interesting things rather than automated replies from Shangri-la...

-------------------------------------------------------

Greetings from Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai.

Thank you for your email and comments in reference to the recent article in the Bangkok Post about the incident that occurred on the construction site last year.

We are very saddened by Nang Noom's situation and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention. We can assure you that we will be investigating this thoroughly with the contractor which employed Nang Noom.

Sincerely yours,

Philip Dailey, General Manager, Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai, 89/8 Chang Klan Road, Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 50100

[candoman89]

Start sending emails to all the General Managers; Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing(?) and everywhere else they are.

[Mosha]

Sad to say, but the Thais are just not concerned about the plight of the Bumese if they are not working for them. Even when they are they are not much bothered what happens to them. There are many arounfd here where the bosses haven't got IC cards for them. If the police call, they just claim they are trespassing but wont leave. The original post does not surprise me at alll.

[jett07]

Hi Mosha,

I think that comment is somewhattrue, but certainly not 100% true. I think generalisation about thai people's feelings towards migrants is not useful. The government policy and media have big role to play also. They manipulate people's aporoaches. When thai's meet migrants personally in their communities, is their a problem. IN BKK many migrants in my community, and they seem to integrate well.

Sad to say, but the Thais are just not concerned about the plight of the Bumese if they are not working for them. Even when they are they are not much bothered what happens to them. There are many arounfd here where the bosses haven't got IC cards for them. If the police call, they just claim they are trespassing but wont leave. The original post does not surprise me at alll.

[justicefornangnoom]

Any update on this case after the noise? any results?? please someone let us all know, or whether we have to start to plan other things to get solution??

[mmsawm02]

มูลนิธิเพื่อสิทธิมนุษยชนและการพัฒนา

The Human Rights and Development Foundation

Press Release: 15th November 2007

Migrant Workplace Accident Victim Receives B362, 000 Compensation From Employer Whilst Challenge Of Labour and Human Rights Groups to SSOs Discriminatory WCF Policy Intensifies

<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><STRONG>Nang Noom, a disabled workplace accident victim, today received a B362, 000 lump sum compensation payment from her employer at the Chiangmai Social Security Office (SSO). The 36-year-old registered migrant, from Shan State (Burma), finally received from her employer what the SSO’s Workmen’s Compensation Fund (WCF) denied to her. Nang Noom’s case has vividly highlighted systematic discrimination by Ministry of Labour (MoL) officials against migrant workers that continues to impede their fo

[mmsawm02]

Dear all, Please see press release from HRDF on settlement of Nang Noom case. Thanks. Making Migrant Safety at Work Matter Project

มูลนิธิเพื่อสิทธิมนุษยชนและการพัฒนา

The Human Rights and Development Foundation

Press Release: 15th November 2007

Migrant Workplace Accident Victim Receives B362, 000 Compensation From Employer Whilst Challenge Of Labour and Human Rights Groups to SSOs Discriminatory WCF Policy Intensifies

Nang Noom, a disabled workplace accident victim, today received a B362, 000 lump sum compensation payment from her employer at the Chiangmai Social Security Office (SSO). The 36-year-old registered migrant, from Shan State (Burma), finally received from her employer what the SSO's Workmen's Compensation Fund (WCF) denied to her. Nang Noom's case has vividly highlighted systematic discrimination by Ministry of Labour (MoL) officials against migrant workers that continues to impede their formal access to basic rights, in breach of international law.

On December 4^th 2006, a mould falling from the 12^th floor of the Shangri-la Hotel construction site in Chiangmai struck Nang Noom, leading to her permanent disability. Nang Noom's accident compensation claim, like many documented by the Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF), was initially rejected by Chiangmai SSO officials in March 2007, on the basis that Nang Noom entered Thailand illegally and therefore had no rights to compensation. After pressure, officials then acknowledged Nang Noom's right to workplace accident compensation after all, and ordered her employer to pay 2, 418B a month to her (60% of the minimum wage in Chiangmai in 2006) from April 2007. On 20^th July, once Nang Noom's permanent disability was confirmed, officials then ordered her employer to continue to compensate her monthly at 2, 418B for the next 15 years. The SSO's rulings removed responsibility for compensating migrant workplace accident victims from the WCF and placed it instead on employers. The rulings were also impractical, as a one off compensation payment was required to allow Nang Noom to rebuild her life, as well as lacking formality and safeguards if her employer did not or could not pay compensation during the next 15 years.

Today, Nang Noom's employer settled her disability compensation claim with a lump sum payment of B362, 796.72. Chiangmai SSO officials witnessed the settlement. This amount is calculated following a 2% advance yearly payment deduction. But despite the positive compensation payment to Nang Noom, her case has highlighted systematic discrimination against migrants within the MoL's systems. The WCF Committee has yet to rule on Nang Noom's important appeal against the SSO's ruling in her case, despite its submission almost 3 months ago, and the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand criticized the SSO's bureaucratic and discriminatory approach to migrant workplace accident victims. The settlement also comes amidst conflicting statements as to the future WCF policy towards migrant workers, where bureaucratic minded MoL officials seek to prevent the inclusion of cases like Nang Noom's into the WCF.

In meetings with labour and human rights groups, Mr. Apai Chandanachulaka (Minister of Labour), Mr. Chuthatawat Indrasukhsri (Permanent Secretary, MoL) and Mr Surin Chiravisit (Secretary General, SSO) agreed migrants should access compensation from the WCF, on non-discrimination and human rights grounds. They promised revocation of a policy, issued in October 2001, that links access to compensation from the WCF to conditions (i.e. a passport and being a tax payer) that a vast majority of the approximately two million migrant workers in Thailand cannot satisfy. But the WCF Director, Ms. Boonchun Thaitongsuk, continues to assert cases like Nang Noom's should be excluded from the WCF, as most migrant workers are yet to have their nationality verified, and they also enter into Thailand illegally. She suggests the inclusion of migrants within the WCF could create a bureaucratic nightmare for officials identifying their dependents if they die, and instead suggests, as with Nang Noom's case, that all responsibility should therefore fall on employers.

Somchai Homlaor, Secretary General of HRDF, said: 'Publicity surrounding Nang Noom's case is what led to this compensation settlement. But the way this case has been dealt with is a stigma to the image of Thailand, resulting from the MoL's mistreatment of migrant workers. Systematic discrimination against migrants is occurring, and pragmatism, equality and human rights are being ignored. Many bureaucratic policy makers see migrant workers as 'illegals' to whom fundamental rights should be denied. But migrants benefit our economy, are human beings, and deserve equal treatment.'

He continues: 'The MoL should repeal the requirements that prevent Nang Noom and almost 2 million other migrant workers in Thailand from receiving accident compensation through the formal channels of the WCF. These discriminatory requirements breach constitutional, domestic, regional and international laws. Migrant workplace accidents and diseases are frequent, but they are also invisible. When migrants encounter accidents and disease at work, the SSO either washes its hands of the problem and refuses any assistance at all, or pushes powerless migrants into negotiations with employers.'

Somchai concludes: 'Placing responsibility for accident compensation on employers will fail most migrant accident victims. It is also bad for employers, especially smaller ones, who cannot insure against accidents. The positive settlement in Nang Noom's case is an exception. The SSO's behaviour also defeats the WCF's own purpose, to replace employer's liability for workplace accidents and diseases. If this policy is not revoked, HRDF, alongside Thai and international labour and human rights groups, will petition domestic and international bodies for an end to this systematic discrimination against migrants.'

<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"></H3>

[plachon]

That's an encouraging court finding for Nang Noom and must give hope that other legal migrants can receive justice in the future.

Will take a bit longer for rights and justice to catch up for the c. 2 million "illegals" no doubt. But at least it revives a bit of faith in the justice sytem, so good news overall.

[mmsawm02]

Article from sun 9th dec bangkok post perspective, UPDATE on Nang Noom case, for your information.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/Perspective/09Dec2007_pers003.php

http://www.bangkokpost.com/Perspective/09Dec2007_pers003.php

Nang Noom, the Shan woman and construction worker who was paralysed in an on-the-job accident at the Shangri-la Hotel site in Chiang Mai last December and who Perspective reported on this October, has finally gotten a break.

Eleven months after the incident, Nang Noom (pictured here in hospital) received a lump sum payment from her employer, a sub-contractor of the Shangri-la Hotel group to compensate her for her injury.

The payment ended (but did not settle) Nang Noom's months-long battle to receive compensation from the Social Security Office's Workmen's Compensation Fund (WCF), as a migrant worker.

Contrary to its commitments in Thai labour law and Thai-ratified ILO treaties, SSO had denied Nang Noom access to the fund on the grounds of her being a worker from Burma, who had, before becoming a registered worker, illegally entered Thailand.

The WCF Appeals Committee was in its third month of considering the case when her employer agreed to the payment. The Appeals Committee has still not announced its decision, and likely never will.

While Nang Noom's employer came through - after a long battle and much bad press - the SSO has slid by, dodging its obligations to workers of all nationalities and setting back the effort to give 2 million migrant workers in the country their basic rights. It is future migrant occupational accident victims that will undoubtedly suffer. Various unions and human rights groups are filing complaints with the ILO, and plan to petition the Administrative Court of Thailand, should the SSO not reverse its discriminatory WCF policy.

[candoman89]

"But the WCF Director, Ms. Boonchun Thaitongsuk, continues to assert cases like Nang Noom's should be excluded from the WCF, as most migrant workers are yet to have their nationality verified, "

Why is their nationality important? Will Americans/Germans/Canadians/Swedes be treated differently than say Burmese (wow what a surprise..........Nang Noom was Burmese ) or Cambodians or Lao?

Whoever said Thais were racist??