Officials on alert for Labour problems

The Labour Protection and Welfare Department has directed all provincial units to be on the alert for labour-related problems, as more are expected to arise due to the economic downturn.

Yesterday, about 400 subcontract workers of Thai Summit Auto Body Industry blocked Bang Na-Trat Road km 12, demanding bonus payments. Their action paralysed traffic for several kilometres along the main road and Bang Phli-Suksawad Road.

A worker said the company had earlier resolved to pay a four-month bonus to 1,400 employees, but refused to pay a bonus to 600 subcontract workers. The workers then made four demands to the management, including payment of a four-month bonus.

They also asked the auto-parts company to hire as full-time employees those subcontract workers who have worked for more than a year. The company must also avoid lay-offs during the New Year holidays or charges against the protesting workers, they insisted.

They agreed to disperse later in the day after the employer agreed to pay a bonus to all subcontract workers. Those having worked at least one year will receive the equivalent of 300 days' pay, those with six to 12 months' service get 20 days and those with less than six months will receive Bt600 each.

Amporn Nitisiri, director-general of the Labour Ministry's Labour Protection and Welfare Department, said labour-related problems usually mushroomed when the year-end approaches, as annual pay hikes and bonuses are on the table.

She expects the problems to intensify this year, however, due to the economic climate.

The department said 320 business operators had filed 342 requests to amend the employment conditions of 243,956 employees between October 2007 and September. Most were concerned with change in pay, welfare and benefits.

About 234 cases were settled bilaterally, two are under negotiation, while 84 are in the dispute settlement process. 

Labour Relations Office chief Somchai Wongthong said the unit was handling disputes over bonus payments at two companies: Auto Alliance (Thailand) in Rayong and Cobra International in Chon Buri.

According to the National Statistical Office, the number of employed reached 37.16 million in October, while the number of unemployed totalled 450,000 - or 1.2 per cent of the 38-million workforce. At the same time last year, the number of employed was 36.1 million and the joblessness rate was 1.1 per cent.

Secretary-general Thananuch Threethipyabutr said the office was now surveying Thai travellers' behaviour as well as their spending per head for the Tourism Ministry. These data will be used to back up the ministry's campaign to promote travel among Thais, as the number of foreign tourists is declining.

Due to the recent closure of Bangkok's commercial airports, it is expected that the tourism industry will be hard hit and that one-third of the workforce of 3 million will be out of a job.