Upgraded law shielding workers gets first nod

By The Nation

 

Government Spokesman Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd

 

BANGKOK: -- A draft amendment to the Labour Protection Act 1998 given approval in principle by the Cabinet promises to ensure men and women are paid equally for jobs of equal value.

 

Government spokesman Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the draft also includes a provision forcing employers who fail to pay wages without advance notice, in breach of employment contracts, to pay affected staff 15 per cent interest per year on earnings owed.

 

As well, workers will have the right to take at least three days off per year with pay to take care of essential personal duties and errands, and pregnant workers will be able to take up to 90 days off for medical checks, up to 45 days of which would be paid leave.

 

The amendment also increases compensation for 20-year employees who are being terminated for reasons other than wrongdoing. They are to be dismissed with 400 days’ pay, increased from 300 days.

 

Sansern said the amendment updates sections of the long-established law, while other portions had become irrelevant or ineffective in protecting workers.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30323955

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-16

6 hours ago, webfact said:

employers who fail to pay wages without advance notice, in breach of employment contracts, to pay affected staff 15 per cent interest per year on earnings owed.

But if the employee publicizes such failure, can the employer bring a successful defamation suit against the employee? Or will it be sufficient enough for the employee to file a complaint with the police .... that might also become the basis for a defamation suit?

Nowhere does the draft seem to address the process by which the employee can force an employment contract without retribution by the employer. A situation that seems to typically exist now in Thailand.

and no mentioning of migrant workers. only for thai workforce?

  disappointing....

Then there will be a new trick of terminating a worker at 19 years, x months so the employer doesn't have to pay out extra. I don't know what a long-time workers gets after say, 14 years, but cheap employers will find a way to pay as little as possible. Nothing, is better.