After almost two years of a court battle four workers, who work at a wool garment factory in the border town of Mae Sot, got compensation today.
Four workers, who were expelled from Seint Hein wool garment factory, claimed compensation at a Thai court, Ko Sai Aung, who works for the Joint Action Committee on Burmese Affairs (JACBA), said.
"Twenty four female workers were laid off from Seint Hein wool garment factory. According to Thai law, the factory owner must pay compensation if the owner lays off workers. The factory owner refused to give compensation. Therefore, workers went to the wool garment factory and confiscated tools demanding their salaries. They confiscated sit-machines from the factory. Female workers worked with these sit-machines which run on motors. They confiscated 54 sit-machines," he added.
About 24 female workers were laid off from Seint Hein wool garment factory in May 7, 2007. They went to court with the help of JACBA for compensation.
Ma Khin Htay Win, who was laid off, said "There is a factory on a river bank. The owner carried away all the machine tools and chairs. Therefore, we had nothing to work. We asked the owner not but the owner ignored our request. The owner shouted at us and said that if you don't want to work here, all of you can walk out. Then he closed the factory and strung a notice outside. The owner told us that we must go outside at 6 O'clock. Finally, we walked out from the factory.
Among the laid off, four workers, Ma Cho Cho The, Ma Ei Mon, Ma Cho Cho and Ma Khin Htay Win, went to a Thai court for compensation. They had to go to the Thai court three times. Finally, the Thai court ordered the owner in October to give 43,0818 Bhat as compensation.
According to Thai laws, the compensation must be paid in court within 60 days. The owner refused to give compensation in court. Therefore, we went to the factory and confiscated machine tools in exchange for our compensation, said the aid group.
"We have a clear view. Labourers have been suffering from exploitation by owners for a long time. We believe that if labourers go to court, they will get justice, " said Ko Sai Aung.
Ko Sai Aung said that there are many factories which have been sued by labourers and told by the court to give out compensation but factories and construction workshops still refuse.
