The Labour Minister showed concern for the Myanmar employee injured from a mechanical accident in Chonburi, breaking his right thumb. The Labour Minister instructed the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare to conduct an intensive inspection within the employees’ workplace to reduce the risk of injury from work. The Department was instructed to comply with the rules, procedures, and conditions prescribed in the Ministerial Regulation to reduce the risk of injury from employees’ work in the workplace.
On November 5, 2020, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin spoke about the case where a representative from the Labour Protection Network took a Myanmar worker called Mr. Buamim, an employee of a company that operates an auto parts business at Nong Bon Daeng, Ban Bueng, Chonburi. The employee suffered an accident from work, being hit by a metal stamping machine on his right hand. The accident broke his thumb. Therefore, the employee wanted the employer to help compensate for the loss of organs and wages during treatment. Under the leadership of Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha, the Labour Minister said that the government cares for employees who suffer from work hazards. Although this case was an injured foreign worker, the government ensures protection according to human rights principles. In particular, the social security system provides the same protection as Thai workers.
Mr. Suchart further said that he had instructed the departments under the Ministry of Labour to support the relatives of the employee in the accident, ensuring they receive protection benefits according to the law. The Chonburi Social Security Office found that the company has registered social security, and the employee joined work on January 21, 2020, as a steel grinding worker. The employee received a daily wage of 336 Baht per day. On July 15, 2020, at 13.20 hours, the employee experienced the accident, but his name was not registered as an insurer, as his work permit had not yet been changed to the current employer. As such, the case is outside the Workmen’s Compensation Fund. The Chonburi Social Security Office and relevant agencies under the Ministry of Labour in Chonburi conducted a company inspection. The employer’s representative provided information that matched the employees’ statements. The employee was invited to another meeting with an agency official on November 11, issuing an order regarding compensation.
“I have instructed the Director-General of the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare to order the Provincial Labour Protection and Welfare Office officials in every province, to inspect organizations and ensure occupational safety standards in the workplace meet the criteria, methods, and conditions prescribed in the Ministerial Regulation regarding the Management of Occupational Safety, Health and Work Environment, B.E. 2549, to reduce the risk of injury from workers in the workplace”.
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Division of Public Relations
5 November 2020
