The Permanent Secretary of Labour urged agencies under the Ministry of Labour in Trat Province to investigate and monitor fishing crew members who died from wrecked fishing boats in Salad Bay, Koh Kood, Trat., compensating the family and implementing strict safety measures.
On June 21, 2019, Permanent Secretary of Labour Mr. Suthi Sukosol reported the case of a wrecked fishing boat in Salad Bay area, Koh Kood, Trat on June 18. According to the investigation conducted by the agencies under the Ministry of Labour in Trat province, the ship that was found wrecked was called Chaivaree, boat registration No. 162201702, 40.92 gross tons in size with fishing nets. The owner of the boat was Mr. Witoon Saejeng, with a total of 15 crew members consisting of 2 Thai workers and 13 Cambodian workers. The shop sunk around Salad Bay, Sai Kao Beach, Koh Kood, Trat, whereby the Royal Thai Navy of Region 1, searched to help the crew. It appeared that 3 crew members died in the wreck, consisting of 1 Thai person, Mr. Suporn Saejeng, 56 years old, a mechanic and the brother of the shipowner. The other 2 crew members that passed away were Cambodian, whereby the relatives have asked the employer to carry out the funeral and send the ashes back to their home country.
Mr. Suthi mentioned that the Ministry of Labour’s assistance found that the employers were not registered according to the law and is in the process of collecting evidence and documents to coordinate with the Klong Yai Port In – Port Out Center (PIPO) to track the employer to register for the compensation fund correctly in order to pay out the rightful benefits. The Social Security Office of Trat Province met the owner of the Chaivaree vessel and checked the relevant documents which found that the employer had a duty to register into the compensation fund since May 30, 2019, according to the contract of employment. 3 employees needed to be recorded including 2 Thai nationals and 1 Cambodian national, with the remaining 12 Cambodian citizens holding the border pass.
For the 3 deaths, the families will receive benefits from the compensation fund. Mr. Suporn Saejeng’s family will receive funeral expenses of 33,000 Baht, while other benefits are being examined for the eligible person. The second person, Mr. Boontai Kao, a Cambodian national, the family will receive funeral expenses of 33,000 Baht, whereas the employee compensation to be paid at 10,000 Baht per month, will be 70 percent of the wage at 7,000 Baht/month for a period of 10 years for a total of 840,000 Baht, totaling 873,000 Baht in compensation to the rightful recipient which is the father and mother of the deceased. The third person, Mr. Neng Nue, a Cambodian national, the case is currently in the process of coordinating with the employer to track the right to receive benefits.
Furthermore, the Labour Protection and Welfare Office of Trat has followed up on wage arrears to deliver to relatives for safety law issues. The investigation found that it was not considered because natural disasters caused the events.
The Permanent Secretary of Labour has urged agencies under the Ministry of Labour to monitor employers to comply with laws strictly and emphasized that employers use legitimate fishing workers, take care of employee welfare and register social security to receive full legal benefits and prevent human trafficking.
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Division of Public Relations/
News by Chaninthorn Phettab/
Information by Office of Employment, Trat Province/
21 June 2019
