Thailand and Burmese labor protection groups discuss worker rights
The Mae Sot branch of the Thai Labor Protection Office met with the community-based organization (CBO) that represent Burmese migrant workers to discuss the Thailand’s Labor Protection Act issue in detail.
Ko Htwe Naing from Yaung Chi Oo Workers’ Association told Karen News that four representatives from Thai LPO and 20 representatives from 12 migrant worker CBOs met in Mae Sot on Wednesday, June 6.
“We talked about what kind of preparation and documentation workers needed to do before they reported labor abuses to the relevant authorities. We worked on the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of labor rights”.
Attendees at the meeting said it was recommended that there needed to be more cooperation and establishing networks between community groups and Non-Government-Organisationss to organise labor rights awareness training, on-going education on labor rights and solving legal issues.
The meeting comes on the back of recent industrial action by workers at two factories in Mae Sot – S.D. Fashion garment factory and M APPAREL Co.LTD – who protested to get Thailand’s minimum daily wage.
It is estimated by workers organisations that there are as many as two million Burmese migrant workers in Thailand, mainly working in the rural sector, fishing, construction and garment industries.
At the end of April, representatives from Thai government departments and business owners discussed the issue of granting the legal minimum daily wage for workers living and working in Mae Sot.
