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Published on August 25, 2007

A spin-off project against alcohol abuse was also introduced, following a report that workers spent Bt2,200 a month on alcohol.

Labour Minister Apai Chandanachulaka yesterday morning handed the certificates to 91 first-class, five second-class and one third-class recipients at a ceremony at Bangkok's Miracle Grand Convention Hotel.

The recipients included Sony Supply Chain Solution Co, Nestle (Thailand), Nan Yang Garment Co, The Mall Group's Bang Khae branch, Siam Makro's Bang Bon branch, Toyota K Motors Co's Sukhapibal 1 branch and Central Food Co's Nong Chok branch.

Labour Protection and Welfare Department chief Padungsak Thephasadin na Ayutthaya said the scheme, launched in 2001 by the department and the Narcotics Control Board, would have 100 more recipient factories next year.

The scheme so far includes 47,429 factories, employing 4.8 million workers, which have sent drug-abusing workers for rehabilitation. A total of 28,959 factories passed the standard, he said.

The scheme's success led to the launch yesterday of a White Factory Without Alcohol scheme by the department and the Friends of Women Foundation.

This followed a study from February to April that found Lamphun Industrial Estate workers spent about Bt2,200 a month on alcohol, leading to occupational accidents and domestic violence, said Bundit Panwiset from the foundation's Women Workers Section.

This meant that 10 million legally registered workers, out of 30 million nationwide, would spend Bt22 billion on alcohol a month or Bt264 billion a year, he said.

Alcohol lowers employees' work performance, affects goods quality, causes occupational accidents and leads to domestic violence, he said.

The foundation will join forces with the Labour Protection and Welfare Department to campaign against alcohol, amphetamines and cigarettes, he said.