Workers turn up at factory to find no job

The workers showed up to work at Sin Anan International's factory but found the equipment gone and were unable to contact Manager Somsak Amnuayreungsri about what had happened and how they would be compensated. The workers alerted authorities as they feared they would not get paid their daily payment rate of Bt170 on the July 1 due date.

The district office and provincial office of labour protection and welfare rushed to assist the unhappy workers. They had the workers sign declarations they had come to work yesterday and filled in compensation request forms. If the employer fails to pay the workers as scheduled on July 1, the provincial office of labour protection and welfare could order the employer to give the workers due payment and compensation according to the Labour Protection Act 2008 within 15 days, or face criminal charges of resisting the labour official's order.

A 39-year-old worker, Suwanna Nilpetch, said the factory had 300 workers before the economic problems led to downsizing to 102. She said the factory manager announced on June 20 a day off for workers because there were no merchandise orders.

After workers showed up to find the factory bare of equipment, she said the manager told them by phone they were to work as usual and would get paid at Bt170 per day. However they were unable to reach the manager again.