Protesting workers block entrance and exit of an electronic factory

[webfact]

Protesting workers block entrance and exit of an electronic factory

 

PRACHINBURI: -- Protesting workers pitched tents and blocked the entrance and exit to a Japanese-owned electronic factory in Prachin Buri’s 304 industrial estate on Wednesday.

 

The workers of Yano Electronics Company have been rallying in front of the company’s factory and inside the compound since Tuesday to demand more bonus, increased cost of living allowance and other fringe benefits.

 

The demands include three-month bonus; 3,000 baht travelling expense for the workers to return home during festive season; 500 baht cost of living allowance from 292 baht; and “diligent” fee amounting to 700,800 and 900 baht.

 

The protesting workers, numbering about 400 on Wednesday, sealed the entrance and exit of the factory to prevent their Japanese executives from leaving.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/protesting-workers-block-entrance-and-exit-of-an-electronic-factory/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-11-24

[Brer Fox]

This might just have an ugly outcome for the Thai workers. The Japanese don't like being told what to do or pushed around. They are normally considerate and ethical business people and good employers.

It would come as no surprise if the company just picked up stakes and moved to Myanmar, Cambodia or Vietnam.

What does "diligent" fee mean. Does it mean workers get paid extra for doing their job properly as opposed to improperly?

[maoro2013]

Well the real answer is to find a new job.

 

May be difficult, but they went to work there in the first place under whatever conditions were agreed.

[sharecropper]

Great message to send to potential employers in the appalling (and worsening) economic climate here.

[adhd]

possible result:   move to cambodia, vietnam or other place where people don't have to go on with demands, and just get fired & replaced

 

plenty of fish

[Caveat Emptor]

Some amazing demands, wonder what's provoked this ?

[Mangostin]

21 minutes ago, Caveat Emptor said:

Some amazing demands, wonder what's provoked this ?

 

"Thainess" ......good companies in, bad companies out 

 

 

[pookiki]

Thai employers and employees need a complete 're-think' on the issues of wages and benefits.  I not 100% sure what 'diligent' fee means but it is probably related to attendance. Many employers in Thailand 'fine' workers for taking sick days or coming to work late - even though the Thai labor code specifies the number of sick days to which an employee is entitled.  Issues such as 'bonus', 'cost-of-living allowance', and 'festive allowances' should be rolled into the basic wage payment - bonuses in particular.  This time of year always sees a lot of labor strife over the bonus issue. Bonuses are completely discretionary on the company but are 'supposed' to be a form of 'profit sharing'.  If there was a set formulae for bonuses or if workers had the ability to audit a company's overall performance, then the situation could be alleviated to some extent.  The preferable solution would be to increase overall wages to give workers increased lifetime wages.

 

In addition, Japanese are not necessarily ethical.  A challenge by workers is regarded as a loss of face and retaliation is usually swift.  There is also something wrong with the pervasive attitude that workers shouldn't have a collective voice about their wages and working conditions.  In another thread there was considerable discussion about protecting worker rights under 'free trade' agreements.  Thai labor law provides rights to worker and these rights should be respected.

 

 

[Mangostin]

Konnichiwa!

                           someone it's learning the hard way, that a company and all its assets should be left at the airport, same as with the quality tourists, leave your wallet here, without possibly even step out from the plane, as your presence will be seen as a burden and annoyance from the mighty locals.

I do have some deep knowledge of what it's going on inside there and many of their best looking employees, and when i say deep, i really mean it.

They are definetely earning good salaries, have many perks and an easy life while at work.

I have never stepped inside any of those places, but you'll find out that so many employees, will broadcast on social media what they are up to, and it's really as an easy stroll in the park, compared to their western counter parts.

Anyway, even if the life it's so easy at work, chatting online, drinking, eating, even taking "power naps" during the long hours staying  inside (and god knows whatever else it's not being broadcasted behind closed doors, but probably one of the main reasons to still investing heavily here isn't it?), they'll soon get bored and want even more, it's not uncommon for an employee to stay at home while still getting paid, to do something more interesting to them, buying new cars, travelling around and always eating outside, are few of the activities that will quickly make their salary disappear, that's why they complain now, it's the employer's fault.....

Maybe time to brush up that law that allow large companies to recruit foreigners without the usual restrictions.....just saying.

 

[Mangostin]

28 minutes ago, pookiki said:

 The preferable solution would be to increase overall wages to give workers increased lifetime wages.

 

It will only works for a very limited amount of time, if you increase wages, you will automatically increase expectations, and they'll find a way to spend that increase even before it has been handed.

The workers into the electronic's sector, are some of the best paid employees around, an unskilled and uneducated starter, can earn close to 20k a month, yes they stay inside from dusk to dawn for it, but with such an easy life they got there, it's almost like going down to the pub, with all your mates to socialize with....and they just love it, thais hate doing things on their own, that's why when you walk into a coffee shop see 10 barmaids behind the counter, making you wait 20 minutes before you get your coffee, it doesn't matter if there are no other customers around.....yes this last example was a bit of a stretch, but if you have been living here for any amount of time, you'll know how close to reality that really is 

[Brer Fox]

1 hour ago, Caveat Emptor said:

Some amazing demands, wonder what's provoked this ?

Could be this giveaway government handing out extra holidays, free money for the poor, subsidies for farmers plus an element of envy of the gravy train some government officials enjoy. 

Maybe these workers feel they are missing out on something. Particularly as now they might need more money to spend on the extra holidays.

[elgordo38]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

The workers of Yano Electronics Company have been rallying in front of the company’s factory and inside the compound since Tuesday to demand more bonus, increased cost of living allowance and other fringe benefits.

If they were willing to pay that they would have built the factory in Japan. Japan should follow the Silk Road model of the Chinese. Go into dirt poor countries that are bleeding/pleading for help and build a factory that produces a product for 10 times LESS than in China. Make the workers do a morning happy dance that gets them pumped (Chinese factory manager claims this ups productivity by 30%) no unions little in the way of benefits and you have the perfect profit people. China is now extending this model to Ohio. Don't remember seeing Ohio on the Silk Road Map. And to think this Ohio project was made possible by doing away with good American jobs and buying shoddy Chinese merchandise in return. Brilliant but for whom.

Edited November 24, 2016 by elgordo38

[kannot]

7 hours ago, Brer Fox said:

This might just have an ugly outcome for the Thai workers. The Japanese don't like being told what to do or pushed around. They are normally considerate and ethical business people and good employers.

It would come as no surprise if the company just picked up stakes and moved to Myanmar, Cambodia or Vietnam.

What does "diligent" fee mean. Does it mean workers get paid extra for doing their job properly as opposed to improperly?

Hope they tell the lot  of them "cheerio"

[Brer Fox]

9 minutes ago, kannot said:

Hope they tell the lot  of them "cheerio"

You can bet this story is doing the rounds in the electronics industries in Japan. Companies looking to set up in ASEAN countries will think twice about coming to Thailand. Foreign investors exited en masse in 2015 after the military took over and these sort of stories will give little encouragement for them to return. 

Thailand's neighbours are more favoured for investment these days because of sovereign risk, higher productivity and greater work ethic.

[PremiumLane]

I bet you lot would be squealing if your cushy expat jobs weren't paying so well - but I guess poor people should just shut up and accept what crumbs are flicked off the table,

[Mangostin]

27 minutes ago, PremiumLane said:

I bet you lot would be squealing if your cushy expat jobs weren't paying so well - but I guess poor people should just shut up and accept what crumbs are flicked off the table,

 

Sorry but, have you got the slightest idea of what you are blabbering about?

When you compare wages between two different countries, you should also use the cost of living for both countries, not only for the one you want very conveniently refer to, simply because if you don't it will give a totally misleading result in the end, and not less importantly, generate a negative opinion about your comprension's capabilities....

Local employers, do not hire foreigners at a higher wage, because they like to waste moneys or are members of the "Thai Rak Farang's Party", try to ask to yourself the reasons for it, and if it was anything less, probably they won't be able to do that, there is not much room left for complaining.

 

[PremiumLane]

1 minute ago, Mangostin said:

 

Sorry but, have you got the slightest idea of what you are blabbering about?

When you compare wages between two different countries, you should also use the cost of living for both countries, not only for the one you want very conveniently refer to, simply because if you don't it will give a totally misleading result in the end, and not less importantly, generate a negative opinion about your comprension's capabilities....

Local employers, do not hire foreigners at a higher wage, because they like to waste moneys or are members of the "Thai Rak Farang's Party", try to ask to yourself the reasons for it, and if it was anything less, probably they won't be able to do that, there is not much room left for complaining.

 

 

sounds like you don't have the slightest idea what you are blathering about... guess my point went completely over your head

[Mangostin]

59 minutes ago, PremiumLane said:

 

sounds like you don't have the slightest idea what you are blathering about... guess my point went completely over your head

Really?

Would you mind then, to explain to us on how, a wage of almost 20.000 Bahts per month, with an apartment close to your working's place, that cost often less than 10% of your total wage (and that's when your company it's not already providing you with free lodge and utilities, or you are living free at your parent's home, just to quote a few examples), would make you a "poor person which it's accepting crumbs"????

1 hour ago, PremiumLane said:

I guess poor people should just shut up and accept what crumbs are flicked off the table,

 

Edited November 24, 2016 by Mangostin

[khunken]

20 minutes ago, Mangostin said:

Really?

Would you mind then, to explain to us on how, a wage of almost 20.000 Bahts per month, with an apartment close to your working's place, that cost often less than 10% of your total wage (and that's when your company it's not already providing you with free lodge and utilities, or you are living free at your parent's home, just to quote a few examples), would make you a "poor person which it's accepting crumbs"????

 

 

Before pointing fingers and asking for explanations from others, why don't you provide some proof of your wage figure and apartment for the factory in question.

 

The Op and the link certainly hasn't got your invented figures so I would tend to agree with PremiumLane that it is you that's blabbering.

[Mangostin]

2 hours ago, khunken said:

 

Before pointing fingers and asking for explanations from others, why don't you provide some proof of your wage figure and apartment for the factory in question.

 

The Op and the link certainly hasn't got your invented figures so I would tend to agree with PremiumLane that it is you that's blabbering.

Here is another defender of the "crumbs scavenging workers", if we are not carefull, soon we will get involved into a fundraising for the poor Lamborghini's drivers of Thailand...ohh dear, must to be the CEO of that factory producing those rose tinted lenses  

[Mangostin]

Just to clarify a bit more, i LIVE in the area from a decade, and as i previously mentioned, as a comsequences i have many good looking friends into almost all of the surrounding factories....enough said. 

Edited November 24, 2016 by Mangostin