Marking this year’s Labour Day with a fervent call to action, a coalition of labour groups has rolled out an impressive roster of demands aimed at amplifying the voices and rights of workers everywhere. At the heart of these pleas, there’s a resounding insistence on the establishment of a risk insurance fund, a move seen as pivotal in safeguarding employees from unfair dismissals and ensuring they receive their rightful severance packages. This initiative, championed by Panus Thailuan, the esteemed president of the National Congress of Thai Labour, seeks to offer a lifeline to workers caught in the treacherous waters of abrupt business closures.
Panus underscores the gravity of this demand with the haunting reminder of Yarnapund Public Co Ltd, a notorious case where employees were left high and dry, owed a staggering 400 million baht in severance pay. The proposed fund, Panus suggests, could be brought to fruition by tweaking existing labour protection laws. The idea is simple yet profound: employers would contribute to this fund, which in turn would act as a financial safety net for employees facing unexpected job loss. Imagine a world where losing a job doesn’t equate to losing the financial ground beneath you. That’s what this proposal aims to achieve.
But wait, there’s more! Tucked into their list of nine demands, there’s a push to revisit the archaic Labour Ministry’s Ministerial Regulation No 7, originally introduced back in 1998. Workers paid on a monthly basis are essentially campaigning for a fair shake, advocating for the same 1.5 times wage rate for overtime that daily-wage earners currently enjoy. The ministry, it seems, is not turning a deaf ear, promising to iron out this discrepancy by June. Fingers crossed!
And that’s not all. Those marching for a better tomorrow are also waving banners for an array of rights including the crucial freedom of association and collective bargaining. They’re asking for no taxes on final lump-sum payments up to one million baht for those dismissed, an inclusive social security net for state enterprise employees, a minimum pension guarantee of 5,000 baht, lifetime healthcare of retirees, and skyscraping safety standards on the job.
Speaking of protections, the drums are beating for the formation of a task force geared to keep a watchful eye on these advocacy efforts, ensuring they don’t just fizzle into bureaucratic hot air. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) isn’t sitting idly by either; they’re urging the government to roll up its sleeves and extend protections across the board. This call doesn’t just include traditional workers but extends to those often overlooked – the informal laborers, migrant workers, service sector employees, and even gig economy contributors. Wage theft and social security disenfranchisement remain thorny issues begging for justice.
In this symphony of demands and rights, Labour Day 2025 emerges not just as a public holiday but as an invigorating call for societal change. The plight of workers is underscored with a bold exclamation mark, urging us all to dream and demand better, fairer, and safer workplaces. Whether it’s the glint of fair overtime pay or the comforting embrace of a risk fund, this movement is sculpting a future where every worker stands tall and unbowed.
This is fantastic! Workers deserve to be protected from unexpected job losses. The risk insurance fund is long overdue!
But who’s going to foot the bill for this fund? Small businesses might struggle with additional costs.
If businesses are operating fairly, they should already have provisions for employee welfare. It’s a small price to pay for a safety net.
Finally someone is thinking about the rights of gig workers! Often these workers are neglected, and protections for them are just as important.
Does anyone else find it suspicious that the Ministry is only ‘promising’ changes without a set plan? Promises without action lead nowhere.
Agreed. Too often these promises get lost in red tape. We need definitive timelines and accountability.
Hopefully, with NHRC’s involvement, there will be more pressure on the government to actually implement these changes.
Overtime pay is a basic right! Monthly wage earners shouldn’t be short-changed.
True, but fair wages should be the focus. Overtime pay shouldn’t distract from the need for a living wage first.
Point taken, but both issues are important and need solutions.
This reform sounds too optimistic. Do you really think the government will prioritize this over corporate interests?
I love that retirees are getting attention here, they deserve lifetime healthcare after years of contributing.
The world is becoming more unfair to the working class. Time for real change and Panus seems to understand that.
There’s a difference between what sounds good in speeches and what’s feasible. Real change requires real strategies.
No taxes on final payments up to one million?! That would help families immensely during tough times.
But wouldn’t this lead to a loss in government revenue that funds public services?
Panus’s vision is admirable, but it will need massive support to become a reality.
That’s why it’s important to keep this conversation going and rally more people to support these efforts.
What’s the point of demanding skyscraping safety standards if companies can’t afford to implement them?
We need more focus on sustainable business practices alongside worker rights.
The reality is the government moves at a snail’s pace. These issues might be ‘in progress’ for years!
I hope that focusing on the freedom of association doesn’t just remain empty words. It’s foundational for collective bargaining.
Protests and campaigns like this are instrumental in opening public discourse. We need more visibility on these issues.
Panus should run for office if he’s this dedicated to worker’s rights.
That would be interesting! Leadership with focus on rights would be refreshing.
[…] with penalties for non-compliance, and disputes are handled through labor courts. In recent years, broader workers’ rights advocacy has gained momentum, with labor groups demanding reforms to ensure fair treatment and protection […]