Myanmar Workers Win 'Unprecedented' Backpay From Cannery Factory in Thailand

[webfact]

Myanmar Workers Win 'Unprecedented' Backpay From Cannery Factory
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Workers on strike Friday outside a Golden Prize Canning factory in Samut Sakhon province. Photo: Courtesy Andy Hall / Migrant Workers Rights Network

SAMUT SAKHON — After a strike involving more than 1,000 workers, a cannery firm in Samut Sakhon province agreed yesterday to pay more than 100 million baht in withheld pay, a concession that one activist described as “unprecedented.”

Approximately 1,600 workers, mostly Myanmar nationals, at Golden Prize Canning Ltd. will also receive most of a 2013 minimum wage increase they never received, according to labor activist Andy Hall, who works with the migrant rights organization assisting the workers.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1456825013


-- Khaosod English 2016-03-02

[RIJoe]

But the company is only paying back 65%?!?!

[jaywalker]

I guess you CAN get blood from a turnip.

Unprecedented indeed.

[doremifasol]

I look around and I see use and abuse on so many levels..............

[Assurancetourix]

But the company is only paying back 65%?!?!

Back pay since 2013 .

If the 2 millions Myanmar workers would come back to their country, Thailand should be in a huge casino .

[aussieinthailand]

But the company is only paying back 65%?!?!

65%, the post didn't say that? only that workers will get "most" of the pay increase.

Ok so who is getting the other 35%? Would that be some more of the so-called "good people" of Thailand?.

And they wonder why the poor and disenfranchised get PISSED off.

And now with this outcome, the owners know they can get away with paying only 65% of money owed and then others will do the same.

9lieing cheating thieving SCUM.

Yes it's good the workers can finally be paid, the problem is they have still been RIPPED OFF by the Thai elite!!!!!!!!!!!! The workers should have been paid the full amount PLUSE 35% then that would be a deterrent to others trying the same crap...

Edited March 2, 2016 by aussieinthailand

[halloween]

But the company is only paying back 65%?!?!

65%, the post didn't say that? only that workers will get "most" of the pay increase.

Ok so who is getting the other 35%? Would that be some more of the so-called "good people" of Thailand?.

And they wonder why the poor and disenfranchised get PISSED off.

And now with this outcome, the owners know they can get away with paying only 65% of money owed and then others will do the same.

9lieing cheating thieving SCUM.

Yes it's good the workers can finally be paid, the problem is they have still been RIPPED OFF by the Thai elite!!!!!!!!!!!! The workers should have been paid the full amount PLUSE 35% then that would be a deterrent to others trying the same crap...

Would never happen in Oz, right? http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-16/7-eleven-worker-speaks-of-intimidation/7174896

[selftaopath]

But the company is only paying back 65%?!?!

65%, the post didn't say that? only that workers will get "most" of the pay increase.

Ok so who is getting the other 35%? Would that be some more of the so-called "good people" of Thailand?.

And they wonder why the poor and disenfranchised get PISSED off.

And now with this outcome, the owners know they can get away with paying only 65% of money owed and then others will do the same.

9lieing cheating thieving SCUM.

Yes it's good the workers can finally be paid, the problem is they have still been RIPPED OFF by the Thai elite!!!!!!!!!!!! The workers should have been paid the full amount PLUSE 35% then that would be a deterrent to others trying the same crap...

In the "full article" one can read:

The factory management agreed to pay 65 percent of the total amount of money owed to the workers, with each worker to receive around 55,000 to 82,000 baht, Hall said.

Personally I would want the workers to receive 100% and interest.

Edited March 2, 2016 by selftaopath

[MZurf]

But the company is only paying back 65%?!?!

65%, the post didn't say that? only that workers will get "most" of the pay increase.

Ok so who is getting the other 35%? Would that be some more of the so-called "good people" of Thailand?.

And they wonder why the poor and disenfranchised get PISSED off.

And now with this outcome, the owners know they can get away with paying only 65% of money owed and then others will do the same.

9lieing cheating thieving SCUM.

Yes it's good the workers can finally be paid, the problem is they have still been RIPPED OFF by the Thai elite!!!!!!!!!!!! The workers should have been paid the full amount PLUSE 35% then that would be a deterrent to others trying the same crap...

Would never happen in Oz, right? http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-16/7-eleven-worker-speaks-of-intimidation/7174896

And exactly how is that relevant?

Oh, sorry. Now I see. It's your favourite "But, but, but...Thaksin" style argument. It happened before so that makes it OK now

Edited March 2, 2016 by MZurf

[aussieinthailand]

But the company is only paying back 65%?!?!

65%, the post didn't say that? only that workers will get "most" of the pay increase.

Ok so who is getting the other 35%? Would that be some more of the so-called "good people" of Thailand?.

And they wonder why the poor and disenfranchised get PISSED off.

And now with this outcome, the owners know they can get away with paying only 65% of money owed and then others will do the same.

9lieing cheating thieving SCUM.

Yes it's good the workers can finally be paid, the problem is they have still been RIPPED OFF by the Thai elite!!!!!!!!!!!! The workers should have been paid the full amount PLUSE 35% then that would be a deterrent to others trying the same crap...

Would never happen in Oz, right? http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-16/7-eleven-worker-speaks-of-intimidation/7174896

It happens in every country mate, so what's your point pumpkin? just trying to have a jab at the Aussie? have another crack.

My point was that the workers should have been paid in full plus interest which would have sent a very clear message to those that like to try this crap, BUT instead the rich and powerful (good people) have gotten away with ripping off the poor weak and venerable yet again and still they wonder why the very same people rise up and elect people like Thaksin that actually do things for them...

Now you should read my last post on Thaksin talks to Aljazeera,

[ramrod711]

But the company is only paying back 65%?!?!

65%, the post didn't say that? only that workers will get "most" of the pay increase.

Ok so who is getting the other 35%? Would that be some more of the so-called "good people" of Thailand?.

And they wonder why the poor and disenfranchised get PISSED off.

And now with this outcome, the owners know they can get away with paying only 65% of money owed and then others will do the same.

9lieing cheating thieving SCUM.

Yes it's good the workers can finally be paid, the problem is they have still been RIPPED OFF by the Thai elite!!!!!!!!!!!! The workers should have been paid the full amount PLUSE 35% then that would be a deterrent to others trying the same crap...

In the "full article" one can read:

The factory management agreed to pay 65 percent of the total amount of money owed to the workers, with each worker to receive around 55,000 to 82,000 baht, Hall said.

Personally I would want the workers to receive 100% and interest.

I would agree with you, but labor negotiations are never easy. Personal convictions that the workers should get all of what they are owed are sometimes overruled by the very same workers. The practical aspect, "it's better to get 65% now because I have rent to pay, or no food in the refrigerator" takes precedence over ideals. Frustrating for the negotiators who would like to see a penalty imposed and a lesson taught, but understandable because not everyone has the financial wherewithal to hold out.

[EyesWideOpen]

Back pay to Burmese workers ??? Has the earth also

stopped turning ??

[Jessi]

Is Andy Hall behind this ??

He is doing a good job.

[SOTIRIOS]

....only 65%.....

...and 'it will take time'......

...who is to say what will happen from now until then....

...it clearly states 2 million or so workers are in the same predicament....

...illegal...with little or no rights...subject to abuse....

..if they know this....why don't they correct it......

...for obvious reasons one would guess.....

[worgeordie]

You may find that those eligible for the back pay,get deported and never get a Bhat,

the company going to use all the tricks in the book so they dont have to hand over

anything.there are plenty more workers waiting to get in.

regards Worgeordie

[Squeegee]

You may find that those eligible for the back pay,get deported and never get a Bhat,

the company going to use all the tricks in the book so they dont have to hand over

anything.there are plenty more workers waiting to get in.

regards Worgeordie

I wouldn't put it past them.

At least this might send a message to all poor Asian people that they do have power in numbers. The elites across Asia must surely fear such a break down in 'culture.'

[Srikcir]

“The legal process failed. We tried to use the rule of law last year, but it failed. We tried using the complaint channel to the federation, but it failed”

Prayut could have ordered compensation paid. But this grievance involved Mynamars and not good Thais. Prayut sends a clear signal to the ASEAN Community that in Thailand it will be business as usual and don't expect equitable treatment.

[tomacht8]

The people who must work for a pittance, and then to cheat them to their meager wage, is disgusting.

What right here keep the manager's to withheld the salary from workers over years?
Those are conditions like in a slave market.

[Wilsonandson]

More than 1,100 workers at Golden Prize factory went on strike on Thursday, demanding the firm pay the wage increase they had never received since the government approved the national wage hike in 2013.

Strike organizers also alleged other unfair practices at the factory in Samut Sakhon, such as the refusal to grant sick leave to workers, even those who provided medical certificates as evidence.

Due to the scale of the protest, the workers drew immediate attention from the military government and local authorities. Golden Prize eventually pledged to pay the workers during negotiations held Friday, ending the strike immediately.

“The amount of money is very large. Usually, this kind of dispute doesn’t end like this,” Hall told Khaosod English on Tuesday. “In this case, the document is very clear. It was signed by the managers, and looked over by the governor and the military.”

So it was just reported by Andy Hall to the media, it's the Myanmar strikers who got their money back.

[BirdsandBooze]

The legal process failed. We tried to use the rule of law last year, but it failed. We tried using the complaint channel to the federation, but it failed

Prayut could have ordered compensation paid. But this grievance involved Mynamars and not good Thais. Prayut sends a clear signal to the ASEAN Community that in Thailand it will be business as usual and don't expect equitable treatment.

200 hundred Thais whose overtime payments were being witheld are also to receive a sum.

[BirdsandBooze]

Although not receiving the full amount it is still an unprecented victory for the oppressed. They have a worthy champion in Andy Hall.

[NCC1701A]

when is Andy Hall's court date?

[steven100]

The people who must work for a pittance, and then to cheat them to their meager wage, is disgusting.

What right here keep the manager's to withheld the salary from workers over years?

Those are conditions like in a slave market.

correct ..... similar to the likes of Nike, Shell oil, Adidas, Levis and many other big corporations who look for the cheapest labour / country possible to set up factories or seek out manufactures who will make their products as cheap as possible ....

This has been going on for decades and continues in most poorer countries .......

[sendintheclowns]

when is Andy Hall's court date?

Don't know. But I often think there should be a (Facebook?) fan club, supporting his worthwhile efforts. That is one real bunt (owner of the canning factory Hall investigated) using the legal system to shut him down. Monitor feedback please.

[Ulic]

Amazing, being made to pay money they actually owe. Any interest? Any penalty?

Any timeframe ?. The owners of the company should be held in jail until the money

is paid with a standing order to be held in jail whenever pay is late. The owners personal

as well as company accounts should be frozen whenever he is late paying as well.

These people tend to live hand to mouth, how much have they had to borrow to

survive and at what interest rate. Once owed money they cannot leave. Slaves.

[Boycie]