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6 October, 2011More than hundred union leaders gathered in Bangkok to demand the ratification of ILO Convention 87 and 98, minimum wage increase and decent work
THAILAND: As a forerunner to the global decent work campaign tomorrow, more than hundred union leaders from IMF affiliate TEAM, Automobile Labour Congress of Thailand (ALCT) and the coalition of unions under the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee (TLSC) met to chart out the demands for the ratification of the core ILO Convention 87 and 98, minimum wage increase of THB 300.00 (US$10.00) per day and decent work.
Experts in the field of labour economics spoke on the need to increase wages especially for the low income wage earners. It was pointed out that even THB 300.00 per day is inadequate to sustain basic living conditions. It is a race to the bottom for workers in Thailand if wages does not go up said Dr. Narong Petchprasert from the Chulalongkorn University.
TEAM General Secretary Yongyuth Mentapao flanked by Pongtep Chaiwan, President of ALCT and Chalee Loysong, President of TEAM gave a press conference in which they reiterated their demands. Chalee said that workers are subjected to all kind of hardship, sufferings and unless they are protected by trade unions they would continue to be exploited.
Pongtep said that the ALCT would join forces with the labour movement to fight for these rights and demands. He stressed on the need to improve the socio-economic condition of workers in Thailand.
In a press release Yongyuth demanded the government of Thailand and its new Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawat to honour the election pledge to raise the minimum wage to THB 300.00, ratify ILO conventions and introduce decent working conditions for Thai workers. She also said that the employers are resisting minimum wage increases and have since been lobbying the government not to raise the national minimum wage.
The meeting resolved to fight these issues under the umbrella of the TLBC till they succeed.