Troops Called To Thai Factory Over 'Tense' Stand-Off With Burmese Workers

[webfact]

Troops called to factory over 'tense' stand-off with Burmese workers

By Jim Pollard

The Nation

Police and troops have been brought in to help resolve a "tense" dispute between hundreds of Burmese workers and bosses of a pineapple canning factory west of Bangkok accused of mistreatment, underpayment and beating workers' representatives.

Non-government groups that advocate for migrant workers voiced concern yesterday for the safety of 700 Burmese at V&K Pineapple Canning Co factory in Ratchaburi province - after the arrival of about 200 police and troops on Monday afternoon.

MAP Foundation said the workers went on strike on Monday morning to demand better working conditions at the factory, located amid about 16,000 hectares of pineapple plantations.

"The workers can no longer tolerate the sub-standard conditions, and the constant deductions from their paypackets without any explanation," a statement by MAP said. "Whenever the workers have asked for an explanation of the deductions they have been threatened with deportation.

"Then [on Sunday], workers were outraged when a worker was beaten by a Thai foreman first in the market and then back in his room. When a Burmese interpreter came to clear up the situation, he too was beaten," it said.

The workers demanded to negotiate directly with the factory owner. "They want to be paid the full legal overtime rates; plus an explanation of the various deductions made from their pay packets before they receive them," MAP said.

They also demanded more toilets. At present, there were only four toilets for workers.

They said they needed full compensation for accidents at work, and improved access to healthcare.

"They have called for an end to discriminatory practices between the treatment of Thai and Burmese workers."

Many of the workers at the factory hold temporary passports and migrant workers cards. The minimum wage in Ratchaburi is Bt180 baht a day.

"In September last year, MAP Foundation had to contact the Labour Protection and Welfare office when 12 women workers at the factory complained that the employer confiscated their personal documents. One of the women, who was pregnant, was refused treatment at hospital because her work permit and health card were held by the employer," the statement said.

V&K Pineapple Canning Factory produces canned pineapples and dehydrated fruits which are exported worldwide including Europe, America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

Bosses for the company were unable to be contacted by press time on Monday.

-- The Nation 2011-01-25

[Buchholz]

and yet the company's website portrays a seemingly worker's paradise....

http://www.takerng-vk.com/profile.html

[kuffki]

Got to love it, instead of bringing in negotiators, they brought in the army. There would not be a hidden message doing this, would there?!

[thaicbr]

They are BURMESE so a threat to national security.. Don't you know anything.. They did it before so they will do it again....invade that is... remember Ayythuya,,,,,,

[kuffki]

They are BURMESE so a threat to national security.. Don't you know anything.. They did it before so they will do it again....invade that is... remember Ayythuya,,,,,,

Sorry i do not recall, i was not born then yet

[jillwilliams999]

If the Burmese don't like, they can always go home. The law does not prevent them to leave Thailand.

[kuffki]

If the Burmese don't like, they can always go home. The law does not prevent them to leave Thailand.

Burmese also deserve to be paid decent wages for the work and be treated like humans, irrespective if they Burmese or Thai.

I personally know a few Burmese in Thailand and the ones i know are hard workers, 7 days per week, 12-14 hour days. Their salary is 4000 baht, thats half of what Thai gets for half of the hours

[SteeleJoe]

"The workers can no longer tolerate the sub-standard conditions, and the constant deductions from their paypackets without any explanation," a statement by MAP said. "Whenever the workers have asked for an explanation of the deductions they have been threatened with deportation.

"Then [on Sunday], workers were outraged when a worker was beaten by a Thai foreman first in the market and then back in his room. When a Burmese interpreter came to clear up the situation, he too was beaten," it said.

The workers demanded to negotiate directly with the factory owner. "They want to be paid the full legal overtime rates; plus an explanation of the various deductions made from their pay packets before they receive them," MAP said.

They also demanded more toilets. At present, there were only four toilets for workers.

They said they needed full compensation for accidents at work, and improved access to healthcare.

"They have called for an end to discriminatory practices between the treatment of Thai and Burmese workers."

Many of the workers at the factory hold temporary passports and migrant workers cards. The minimum wage in Ratchaburi is Bt180 baht a day.

"In September last year, MAP Foundation had to contact the Labour Protection and Welfare office when 12 women workers at the factory complained that the employer confiscated their personal documents. One of the women, who was pregnant, was refused treatment at hospital because her work permit and health card were held by the employer," the statement said.

Yeah, if they don't like it they should just go back to the military dictatorship they fled from.

Jeez. Some people.

[jillwilliams999]

Just imagine this story: A Burmese walk into a factory to seek a job. The factory is is having a hard time and could not afford more workers. The Burmese beg for a job. Out of pity, and to save the poor soul from sleeping in the park, the owner say "7 days per week, 12-14 hour days, salary is 4000 baht, that's half of what Thai gets for half of the hours". The Burmese could not believe his luck, surprise and filled with joy, as this mean 10 times better pay than back home. He took the job without hesitation, and work very hard as a gratitude to the factory owner. . . As a comparison, Thai workers are willing and happy to be paid half, and work twice as much, compared to the Swedish berry pickers.

[wolf5370]

Just imagine this story: A Burmese walk into a factory to seek a job. The factory is is having a hard time and could not afford more workers. The Burmese beg for a job. Out of pity, and to save the poor soul from sleeping in the park, the owner say "7 days per week, 12-14 hour days, salary is 4000 baht, that's half of what Thai gets for half of the hours". The Burmese could not believe his luck, surprise and filled with joy, as this mean 10 times better pay than back home. He took the job without hesitation, and work very hard as a gratitude to the factory owner. . . As a comparison, Thai workers are willing and happy to be paid half, and work twice as much, compared to the Swedish berry pickers.

Just imagine this story. A THai turns up in a small Burmese village near the border and convinces the people of the village the wonders of working for a canned foods producer in Thailand; good pay, great conditions, send money home to support your families. A Burmese father tells his wife and kids that he will go and do this work, send them money home - just for 6 months until its time to go back into their own fields. When he arrives, his passport and documents are ceased, he has to share a toilet with 200 people, is beaten and monry is stolen from his wage packet. As he has no papers (being held) he is affraid of being arrested and not being able to get home. He is refused medical treatment when he is sick and injured (often with a 7 dat 14 hour week). Coming from a severe military dictatorship, he is afraid of the police and authorities. He feels trapped and scared.

Edited January 25, 2011 by wolf5370

[katasyd]

The factory owner must have some connections to get the military involved.

Money politics wins again.

[SteeleJoe]

Just imagine this story: A Burmese walk into a factory to seek a job. The factory is is having a hard time and could not afford more workers. The Burmese beg for a job. Out of pity, and to save the poor soul from sleeping in the park, the owner say "7 days per week, 12-14 hour days, salary is 4000 baht, that's half of what Thai gets for half of the hours". The Burmese could not believe his luck, surprise and filled with joy, as this mean 10 times better pay than back home. He took the job without hesitation, and work very hard as a gratitude to the factory owner. . . As a comparison, Thai workers are willing and happy to be paid half, and work twice as much, compared to the Swedish berry pickers.

Yes, I can imagine such a story. No doubt it has happened many a time. Now imagine this: the Burmese worker after working very hard in gratitude -- despite getting only half what a Thai makes (even one who doesn't work hard) for half the time -- proceeds to be constantly deducted from his already unfair pay, beaten after requesting explanation, is not allowed any overtime pay, has insufficient tolilets, has his documents confiscated (as a result is denied medical care) is not compensated for accidents. Why is that OK? Would Swedish employers do that to Thais? Should they be allowed to?

Just because one is in a position to exploit others ruthlessly -- with their initial acquiescence (borne out of desperation) -- doesn't mean its ethical or legal to do so. Or that there is no limit to how can further mistreat them even beyond what they agreed to. If the claims in the article are accurate, I can't imagine how any right-thinking person can defend the actions of the Thai employer or somehow shift the onus on the Burmese workers to fix it by returning to perhaps an equally untenable situation or worse.

I can only assume that no matter how you are treated in this country, its OK with you or else you will quietly just go back to wherever you are from (which no doubt is probably a lot more appealing than Burma and in which you probably have far more choices and personal freedoms). The next time you agree to something with a Thai and they screw you beyond what you anticipated, just remember to be grateful to them!

EDIT TO ADD:

Oops! Forgot in your scenario the Thai boss hired the Burmese out of pity and compassion, then proceeded to screw them over?

Well, that's OK then.

Edited January 25, 2011 by SteeleJoe

[ginjag]

"The workers can no longer tolerate the sub-standard conditions, and the constant deductions from their paypackets without any explanation," a statement by MAP said. "Whenever the workers have asked for an explanation of the deductions they have been threatened with deportation.

"Then [on Sunday], workers were outraged when a worker was beaten by a Thai foreman first in the market and then back in his room. When a Burmese interpreter came to clear up the situation, he too was beaten," it said.

The workers demanded to negotiate directly with the factory owner. "They want to be paid the full legal overtime rates; plus an explanation of the various deductions made from their pay packets before they receive them," MAP said.

They also demanded more toilets. At present, there were only four toilets for workers.

They said they needed full compensation for accidents at work, and improved access to healthcare.

"They have called for an end to discriminatory practices between the treatment of Thai and Burmese workers."

Many of the workers at the factory hold temporary passports and migrant workers cards. The minimum wage in Ratchaburi is Bt180 baht a day.

"In September last year, MAP Foundation had to contact the Labour Protection and Welfare office when 12 women workers at the factory complained that the employer confiscated their personal documents. One of the women, who was pregnant, was refused treatment at hospital because her work permit and health card were held by the employer," the statement said.

Yeah, if they don't like it they should just go back to the military dictatorship they fled from.

Jeez. Some people.

Nothing matter with migrant workers-they are needed if no workforce is available, OR thai workers are too lazy to do the job, especially for peanuts. treat who you have with respect, the owners sound like thugs to me. What are the army doing there, shouldn,t they be near the borders to stop invasions. Protect the country from threat ? If anyone should be there it should only be the police, to help sort out the skirmishes, and restore order. The last poster Has lost it--sure...what a shame.

Edited January 25, 2011 by ginjag

[Buchholz]

They are BURMESE so a threat to national security.. Don't you know anything.. They did it before so they will do it again....invade that is... remember Ayythuya,,,,,,

A more recent example might be when Burmese invaded a hospital in Ratchaburi and held the patients hostage in 2000.

[Bagwan]

Time to bring the Japanese army back to Thailand to give some Thais a taste of slavery and oppression. Might also remind them that farangs liberated them.

Can't help feeling that although this offends Western sensibilities it is nothing out of the normal for this part of the World.

[SteeleJoe]

"The workers can no longer tolerate the sub-standard conditions, and the constant deductions from their paypackets without any explanation," a statement by MAP said. "Whenever the workers have asked for an explanation of the deductions they have been threatened with deportation.

"Then [on Sunday], workers were outraged when a worker was beaten by a Thai foreman first in the market and then back in his room. When a Burmese interpreter came to clear up the situation, he too was beaten," it said.

The workers demanded to negotiate directly with the factory owner. "They want to be paid the full legal overtime rates; plus an explanation of the various deductions made from their pay packets before they receive them," MAP said.

They also demanded more toilets. At present, there were only four toilets for workers.

They said they needed full compensation for accidents at work, and improved access to healthcare.

"They have called for an end to discriminatory practices between the treatment of Thai and Burmese workers."

Many of the workers at the factory hold temporary passports and migrant workers cards. The minimum wage in Ratchaburi is Bt180 baht a day.

"In September last year, MAP Foundation had to contact the Labour Protection and Welfare office when 12 women workers at the factory complained that the employer confiscated their personal documents. One of the women, who was pregnant, was refused treatment at hospital because her work permit and health card were held by the employer," the statement said.

Yeah, if they don't like it they should just go back to the military dictatorship they fled from.

Jeez. Some people.

Nothing matter with migrant workers-they are needed if no workforce is available, OR thai workers are too lazy to do the job, especially for peanuts. treat who you have with respect, the owners sound like thugs to me. What are the army doing there, shouldn,t they be near the borders to stop invasions. Protect the country from threat ? If anyone should be there it should only be the police, to help sort out the skirmishes, and restore order. The last poster Has lost it--sure...what a shame.

Just to be clear -- sarcasm doesn't always work online -- I am NOT agreeing with the person whom I qouted.

[JUDAS]

If the Burmese don't like, they can always go home. The law does not prevent them to leave Thailand.

Basic human rights apply to all.

[JUDAS]

If the Burmese don't like, they can always go home. The law does not prevent them to leave Thailand.

Burmese also deserve to be paid decent wages for the work and be treated like humans, irrespective if they Burmese or Thai.

I personally know a few Burmese in Thailand and the ones i know are hard workers, 7 days per week, 12-14 hour days. Their salary is 4000 baht, thats half of what Thai gets for half of the hours

This is something my wife and I feel strongly about. We employ both Thai and Burmese, pay rates being set on ability, not nationality.

[SteeleJoe]

Time to bring the Japanese army back to Thailand to give some Thais a taste of slavery and oppression. Might also remind them that farangs liberated them.

Well..not so much. The Thais (the government and to a lesser but not insignificant extent the citizenry) mostly collaborated with the Japanese and thus didn't suffer all that much under the occupation (and certainly FAR less than their neighbors in the rest of SEA).

Liberation? Kinda. I mean we beat the Japanese and thus they had to relinquish Thailand but we didn't exactly come in a drive the Japanese out and thus free the Thais from slavery* and oppression. Not to mention that if it were up to some of the Falangs (eg the British) the Thais would have been severely punished for their alliance with the Japanese.

*The slaves were mostly other Asians and Falangs.

[Emptyset]

Somewhat tangential here, but I've just seen this:

"Personal Freedom - Ranked 106th

Thai citizens are very satisfied with their freedoms, but remain intolerant of immigrants and minorities Despite restricted civil liberties – including freedom of expression, belief, association, and personal autonomy – an astonishing 87%* of the population are satisfied with their freedom of choice in their daily lives. This places Thailand within the top 20 with respect to the latter variable. However, the citizens perceive themselves as the most intolerant society in the world: less than a tenth* of people surveyed in 2009 thought that their city was a good place for immigrants, and around a fifth* thought the same about ethnic and racial minorities."

http://www.prosperity.com/country.aspx?id=TH

[kuffki]

Just imagine this story: A Burmese walk into a factory to seek a job. The factory is is having a hard time and could not afford more workers. The Burmese beg for a job. Out of pity, and to save the poor soul from sleeping in the park, the owner say "7 days per week, 12-14 hour days, salary is 4000 baht, that's half of what Thai gets for half of the hours". The Burmese could not believe his luck, surprise and filled with joy, as this mean 10 times better pay than back home. He took the job without hesitation, and work very hard as a gratitude to the factory owner. . . As a comparison, Thai workers are willing and happy to be paid half, and work twice as much, compared to the Swedish berry pickers.

Just imagine another story.

Burmese accepts the job with all the conditions stated, but then it turns out he/she is working 16-18 hour days and when it comes to pay day, not only he/she does not get over time but gets half of that money because the "good" employer has deducted living/accommodation and Burmese worker gets only 2000 baht for working even more hours then agreed.

Then when she/he speaks with the boss, he/she gets told to f..... off and when he/she starts to complain and demand money owed as per initial agreement, he/she gets army guns pointing.

But i am sure Thai employers would never do that because they have a good reputation of being good and fair bosses-(NOT)

Now put yourself into that person's shoes, and i am sure you will be making a post here seeking help or advice on what to do because your contract has been breached.

Why is it ok to have the double standards with Burmese but a huge big deal when farang gets the double pricing or double standards or less rights then a Thai and so on.

[Kilgore Trout]

If the Burmese don't like, they can always go home. The law does not prevent them to leave Thailand.

so can (and should) you

[Kilgore Trout]

Just imagine this story: A Burmese walk into a factory to seek a job. The factory is is having a hard time and could not afford more workers. The Burmese beg for a job. Out of pity, and to save the poor soul from sleeping in the park, the owner say "7 days per week, 12-14 hour days, salary is 4000 baht, that's half of what Thai gets for half of the hours". The Burmese could not believe his luck, surprise and filled with joy, as this mean 10 times better pay than back home. He took the job without hesitation, and work very hard as a gratitude to the factory owner. . . As a comparison, Thai workers are willing and happy to be paid half, and work twice as much, compared to the Swedish berry pickers.

Yes, I can imagine such a story. No doubt it has happened many a time. Now imagine this: the Burmese worker after working very hard in gratitude -- despite getting only half what a Thai makes (even one who doesn't work hard) for half the time -- proceeds to be constantly deducted from his already unfair pay, beaten after requesting explanation, is not allowed any overtime pay, has insufficient tolilets, has his documents confiscated (as a result is denied medical care) is not compensated for accidents. Why is that OK? Would Swedish employers do that to Thais? Should they be allowed to?

Just because one is in a position to exploit others ruthlessly -- with their initial acquiescence (borne out of desperation) -- doesn't mean its ethical or legal to do so. Or that there is no limit to how can further mistreat them even beyond what they agreed to. If the claims in the article are accurate, I can't imagine how any right-thinking person can defend the actions of the Thai employer or somehow shift the onus on the Burmese workers to fix it by returning to perhaps an equally untenable situation or worse.

I can only assume that no matter how you are treated in this country, its OK with you or else you will quietly just go back to wherever you are from (which no doubt is probably a lot more appealing than Burma and in which you probably have far more choices and personal freedoms). The next time you agree to something with a Thai and they screw you beyond what you anticipated, just remember to be grateful to them!

EDIT TO ADD:

Oops! Forgot in your scenario the Thai boss hired the Burmese out of pity and compassion, then proceeded to screw them over?

Well, that's OK then.

Spot on, and this whole thing with the Thai laborers being "exploited" in Florida; with scenarios like this I feel no compassion for those Thai workers. Thailand; get your own house in order before you go complaining about how Thais are treated in the US; remember (as many here have said) if you don't like it, go home! Or don't come to the states in the first place, we have enough immigrants

[serpentine]

If the Burmese don't like, they can always go home. The law does not prevent them to leave Thailand.

Yes they are obviously a waste of space here and not needed to help Thailand prosper. And of coarse if they did all pack up and go home because they were treated like animals the thais would have to take the jobs.......and the productivity of the plant would suffer?

[loonodingle]

"The workers can no longer tolerate the sub-standard conditions, and the constant deductions from their paypackets without any explanation," a statement by MAP said. "Whenever the workers have asked for an explanation of the deductions they have been threatened with deportation.

"Then [on Sunday], workers were outraged when a worker was beaten by a Thai foreman first in the market and then back in his room. When a Burmese interpreter came to clear up the situation, he too was beaten," it said.

The workers demanded to negotiate directly with the factory owner. "They want to be paid the full legal overtime rates; plus an explanation of the various deductions made from their pay packets before they receive them," MAP said.

They also demanded more toilets. At present, there were only four toilets for workers.

They said they needed full compensation for accidents at work, and improved access to healthcare.

"They have called for an end to discriminatory practices between the treatment of Thai and Burmese workers."

Many of the workers at the factory hold temporary passports and migrant workers cards. The minimum wage in Ratchaburi is Bt180 baht a day.

"In September last year, MAP Foundation had to contact the Labour Protection and Welfare office when 12 women workers at the factory complained that the employer confiscated their personal documents. One of the women, who was pregnant, was refused treatment at hospital because her work permit and health card were held by the employer," the statement said.

Yeah, if they don't like it they should just go back to the military dictatorship they fled from.

Jeez. Some people.

The fact that they are Burmese is irrelavant.

Basic rights like a toilet, access to doctors, explanation of salary deductions and being free from assault from your employer are basic human rights.

They are obviously making the Thai owner alotta money and a few basics would probably increase production. Its a win win situation.

Maybe the poster has been in Thailand to long to forget about Human Rights.

What a Tos#$r

[SteeleJoe]

Spot on, and this whole thing with the Thai laborers being "exploited" in Florida; with scenarios like this I feel no compassion for those Thai workers. Thailand; get your own house in order before you go complaining about how Thais are treated in the US; remember (as many here have said) if you don't like it, go home! Or don't come to the states in the first place, we have enough immigrants

Spot on? Doesn't seem like we agree...

You think Thai workers (or others) aren't ever exploited in the US? It happens in Florida and lots of other states. Just as it happens in other developed countries.

So if we have people doing the same thing in our country (where we're suppsoed to be far better ad beyond that and I'd like to believe we are at least beyond toleration of it), we shouldn't complain about the Thais doing it in theirs? So I guess whatever social ills and injustices we have, we should remain silent about those that exist here? I'll just bet you've never complained about anything in Thailand except for things that NEVER happen in the US. And up to now, you like everything about Thailand because otherwise you'd go home, right? You're no hypocrite.

PS: Everything America is (supposed to be) about contradicts your anti-immigrant chauvinism. Americans have traditionally been rightly proud of the fact that we are a nation of immigrants (I'm not suggesting for a second that means unlimited immigration or unfettered rights for those who get there) that -- at least according to legend and not wihtout basis in fact -- welcomes newcomers with more tolerance than where they came from. You're a native American, are you?

[SteeleJoe]

Why do people keep qouting me? I was responding (ironically) to this and I'm NOT in agreement with it:

jillwilliams999

If the Burmese don't like, they can always go home. The law does not prevent them to leave Thailand.

[featography]

If the Burmese don't like, they can always go home. The law does not prevent them to leave Thailand.

Burmese also deserve to be paid decent wages for the work and be treated like humans, irrespective if they Burmese or Thai.

I personally know a few Burmese in Thailand and the ones i know are hard workers, 7 days per week, 12-14 hour days. Their salary is 4000 baht, thats half of what Thai gets for half of the hours

sounds a lot like the mexican farm laborers in the US.

Burmese invading Thailand again, a few thousand at a time, over a very patient long period of time, without a single battle.

Mexicans taking over the west coast again, a few thousand at a time, over a very patient long period of time, without a single battle.

[SteeleJoe]

Yeah, right. The Burmese are taking over.

(Won't even get into the Mexican/US thing...)

[OzMick]

Change the names, date and addresses - and this story has been repeated over and over again in Australia and the UK, and probably the US, and lead to the birth of the union movement. Love or hate them, this is what unions are for.<br><br>

My father was a union rep. He taught me that the only way to get all your workplace entitlements was to first know what you are entitled to, and then ask for it, and be prepared to fight for it if it was refused. I wish these Burmese the absolute best of luck - they will still be exploited and work for peanuts, but at least they might get the peanuts that they are entitled to.<br><br>

Jill, I can only assume that 999 refers to your birth date. I also assume that you are female, so I have a little story for you. Same years back, a Korean company set up a garment factory in Sri Lanka to exploit the low wages there. The work-force were all young women, most working away from home, who had to do a little horizontal overtime or lose their job. Nearly 100 of them contracted AIDS from one, or more, of their Korean foremen. If you can't generate a little sympathy for that group of exploited workers, you have a brain dysfunction.   <br>