The Labour Minister showed concern for three Thai workers who died and three who were injured while working at the New Taipei Por in Taiwan. He has instructed labour diplomats to investigate and coordinate with support to the families and workers to ensure they receive compensation following the legal processes.
On December 3, 2019, Labour Minister M.R. Chatumongol Sonakul spoke about the case of three Thai workers who died and three who were injured in an accident at work. The workers fell into the sea while moving large cement blocks to the offshore gas collection and storage station at New Taipei Port in Taiwan. The Labour Minister said the Ministry of Labour is concerned about the safety of Thai workers who work abroad. In this case, he has instructed labour diplomats to investigate and coordinate with employers and recruitment companies so that the families and workers receive compensation according to legal processes. According to the Manila Labour Office’s report (Part 2), Taipei found that on December 1, at 16.40 hours, Thai workers at PAN ASIA had an accident at the construction site of the company’s gas collection and storage terminal at New Taipei Port. The workers were moving large cement blocks to the offshore gas collection and storage stations, but there was an accident as the cement plunged into the sea with 7 workers. Of the 7 workers, 6 were Thai and 1 was Taiwanese. Three Thai workers died, including 1) Mr. Phiphat Saenkote, 54, from Udon Thani 2) Mr. Worasak Dudkid, 41, from Sukhothai, and 3) Chayo Hongsawong, 54, from Nakhon Phanom. The three injured workers were 1) Mr. Tamreang Thongmee, 42, from Uttaradit, who remains in severe condition at Mackey Memorial Hospital, Tamsui 2) Mr. Ekasit Leewong, 26, from Phetchabun, with rib fractures. He has received treatment with improved health and has returned to the dormitory, and 3) Mr. Meechai Yatra, 43, from Nakhon Ratchasima, who was injured slightly.
M.R. Chatumongol further said for the latest assistance, the Taipei Labour Office has instructed the employer and recruitment companies to do their best to work on the compensation for the patients and families and advised that Thai monks perform on-site ceremonies to create morale for Thai workers, on December 2 at 10:00 hours. The relevant departments are in the process of being investigated. As for the compensation that the families and Thai workers will receive include in the event of death, the families are entitled to receive compensation from the Labour Insurance Fund. If the Thai workers were members of the fund for the first time before 2009, they would receive a compensation of 40 times the reported wage, and the families receive funeral expenses of 5 times the pay that is insured. However, if the workers were members after January 1, 2009, the families will receive compensation monthly, which must be submitted annually. For the three Thai workers who died while performing their duties, in addition to receiving compensation and funeral expenses, the families will receive a grant of approximately 100,000 NTD and compensation from the employer which depends on the level of responsibility of the employer, The Office of Safety Inspection by the Ministry of Labour is responsible for investigating the cause of this accident. In case of injury, if the doctor diagnoses a disability, the workers have the right to receive disability compensation from the Labour Insurance Fund according to the level of disability.
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Division of Public Relations/
News by Chaninthorn Phettab/
3 December 2019
