Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin assigned his Advisor to visit Phetchaburi to meet with the Myanmar Labour Ambassador and heads of its affiliated agencies to accelerate the assistance of compensation and benefits for the families of three deceased Myanmar employees involved in a boat capsize in the Gulf of Thailand in Cha-am. He emphasized that the government and the Ministry of Labour provide care and protection to the foreign workers to work in Thailand legally according to human rights principles, including social security and various protections according to the law, equal to Thai workers in all respects. The meeting took place at the Phetchaburi Employment Office.
On February 23, 2021, at 10.00 hours, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin, assigned Advisor to the Labour Minister Mrs. Thiwalrat Angkinan, presided over the meeting to discuss the situation and aid employees involved in a boat capsize in the Gulf of Thailand in Cha-am, Phetchaburi. The meeting took place at the Phetchaburi Employment Office. Mr. Thu Rein Linn, Labour Ambassador Chief of Myanmar. Advisory Board Member to the Labour Minister Mrs. Thienrat Navamawat and the heads of government agencies under the Ministry of Labour in Phetchaburi province also participated in this meeting. The Labour Minister’s Advisor said that the government, under the leadership of Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha, and the Ministry of Labour, under the supervision of General Prawit Wongsuwan, is concerned about the vessel capsize incident, especially about the foreign workers working legally in Thailand that must be maintained and protected according to human rights principles, including social security rights and various protections following the law, equal to those as Thai workers in all respects. Today, the Labour Minister assigned his Advisor to visit the area to meet with the Labour Ambassador Cheif to monitor the situation and find ways to help employees involved in the vessel capsize. The effort will ensure that the workers who died, both Thai and foreign workers, receive benefits according to the law, ensuring equity. The Labour Minister has instructed the Phetchaburi Provincial Labour Protection and Welfare Office officials to investigate and look after employees involved in the incident. He has asked agencies to monitor the situation to help workers with wages and expenses incurred during the employee’s absence from work. The Phetchaburi Provincial Employment Office shall examine the foreign workers’ status and whether they entered legally or not. The Phetchaburi Provincial Social Security Office will examine the employee’s insured persons status to provide legal compensation and benefits. Initial investigations found that the three deceased Myanmar workers are entitled to compensation benefits of 40,000 Baht per person for funeral expenses and 70 percent of the monthly wages in compensation for the family, paid for 10 years.
Mrs. Thiwalrat continued with details for three Myanmar workers who died: 1) Mr. Pyae Phyo Aung, 33, the family will receive compensation of 7,000 Baht per month for 10 years, totaling 840,000 Baht. 2) Mr. Saw Aung Tun, 28, the family will receive compensation of 7,000 Baht per month for 10 years, totaling 840,000 Baht. 3) Mr. San Kyaw Tho, 33, the family will receive compensation of 7,000 Baht per month for 10 years, totaling 840,000 Baht. The Phetchaburi Provincial Employment Office has already coordinated with the Samut Sakhon Social Security Office and the employer regarding benefits.
“In this incident, the deceased employees are both Thai and foreign workers who have come to work in Thailand legally. The government and the Ministry of Labour will not neglect or treat the employees differently. These workers are the main cogs in driving the national economy and must be maintained and protected according to human rights principles, social security rights, and various protections according to the law, equal to Thai workers in all respects,” Mrs. Thiwalrat concluded.
Labour Ambassador Chief of Myanmar Mr. Thu Rein Linn thanked the Thai government for helping all three of the Myanmar workers who died in the vessel that capsized in the Gulf of Thailand, Cha-am District, Phetchaburi. The families will receive funeral expenses and compensation paid to Myanmar workers according to human rights principles, both social security rights and various protections following the law, equal to Thai workers in all respects.
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Division of Public Relations
23 February 2020
