Workers propose 9 proposals to PM

Led by Banchong Boonrat, the workers who represented 109 labour unions urged the government set up a committee comprising employers and employees and labour officers to investigate disputes arising a result of the economic crisis. Any employer which needs to terminate jobs due to economic crisis must win the committee's approval. The government is also urged to provide financial assistance to liquidity-suffering employers and protect workers from mistreatments during the time of crisis. 

 Workers should be educated of the labour-related laws through all media channels, while mega-projects should be kicked off. The Labour Ministry should have exact data on unemployment and the number of open jobs and provide measures to put the unemployed back to work in a short while. Last, the government should extend the measures to relieve the public's cost of living for another year.

Banchong said that in the time of crisis, some employers have exercised the Article 75 of the Labour Protection Law, in reducing the work days, partially cutting salaries, or terminating jobs particularly subcontracted workers without paying compensations.

About 50 villagers from Chachoengsao, Saraburi, Rayong and Chumphon on Thursday also submitted a petition to the prime minister, urging him to review the power development plan which stressed the necessity of building new power plants. They said new power plants which have not won environment impact assessment should not be proceeded as they could cause pollution problems.