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BFT's labour union is, however, not satisfied with the offer, saying that helping unemployed workers find jobs is one of the ministry's normal responsibilities.

"What we want from the firm is to have initial aid for the laid-off workers, with compensation under its code of good conduct," said Jittra Chochadet, an adviser to the labour union at Triumph International (Thailand).

According to BFT's statement, the company has secured interviews for more than 3,900 jobs with a wide variety of prominent companies for the 1,930 workers who will be displaced by the recently announced downsizing of its Bang Phli factory.

BFT will work with the Labour Ministry to hold a job fair early next week, at which workers who will be leaving the company can be interviewed by these companies.

All employees who are leaving the lingerie-maker will receive

their full severance packages regardless of their future employment, the company said.

Jittra said the workers to be laid off on August 28 would receive compensation as required under the Labour Act plus one month's wages on August 26.

However, she added that even if they were found new jobs, their pay would not be equal to what they are currently getting, as they would have to work their way up in their new firms. The workers who will be retrenched are aged 30-54, with most of them older than 40.

BFT in its statement said it would reduce its sewing capacity and workforce by about 37 per cent, or 1,930 employees, at the Bang Phli factory, in line with its global restructuring programme. The change will be effective on August 28.

Severance arrangements for employees who will be leaving BFT will in all cases exceed the requirements of Thai employment law, the statement said.

The company's recent announcement of the lay-offs led to workers gathering to protest at the factory. They want the company to pay them compensation above the minimum required under the Labour Act.

A few days later, more than 100 employees submitted a complaint to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva seeking legal protection. Led by Boonsueb Kuanfung, the labour union's leader, the workers said the company had not followed employment law in eliminating the jobs.

Some workers are entitled to special compensation, Boonsueb said. Moreover, although the compensation should be paid immediately, the company said it would pay it in August.