Rubber tappers in Trang complain they are left out by the government

[webfact]

Rubber tappers in Trang complain they are left out by the government

TRANG: -- Rubber tappers in Trang province have asked for government’s help claiming that they have been left out as all the government’s assistance only benefit the plantation owners.

They said that their daily income from tapping rubber latex now averaging 200-300 baht which are hardly enough to make ends’ meet. Also, they said that they still have another month to work the rubber trees after which they will have to stop working for about two months as dry season sets in and rubber trees will no longer yield latex.

The Trang rubber planters said that the price of latex in the province now stands at 35-36 baht a kilo while raw rubber sheets are priced at 40 baht a kilo.

They went on saying that if rubber farmers and tappers in other southern provinces rise up to protest against the depressed rubber prices or to demand government’s help they were ready to join their cause because they are no suffering badly.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/rubber-tappers-trang-complain-left-government


-- Thai PBS 2015-01-26

[Junkyarddog]

Farmers in Thailand need to be taught and then must except the international market place sets the prices. The Thai government cannot continue to pay farmers more than their product is worth. We just did that with rice and look how that turned out.

[rickirs]

The operators/farmers want a guarantee 30% profit margin which would come from prices (rubber sheet: Bt80-90/kg) much higher than current market prices (rubber sheet: Bt40-50/kg). In September 2013 in response to farmer protests, the Yingluck regime gave them subsidies and loans. In December 2014 in response to Southern farmer protests, the Prayuth regime gave them even greater subsidies and loans. But while both regimes provided subsidies higher than market price, neither provided sufficient subsidies to allow a 30% profit margin. And still the operators/farmers are dissatisfied.

Regarding the tappers not making enough wages, that is a matter between the operators/owners and workers. There is a minimal national wage of Bt300/day. If workers are not getting minimum wage, they should file a complaint. it is not the responsibility of the owners to pass through to employees any revenues or profits from the business.

[thaiguzzi]

Tappers are never on a set wage. It is generally a 60/40 % split. 40% to the tappers. Now prices are hard hit, some plantations are going 50/50 % just to keep workers on.

[BestBitterPhuket]

Devalue the baht, and rubber prices will go up instantly.