The Labour Minister showed concern for workers suffering from fire at Central World and reiterated that the 2 deceased workers’ families would receive social security benefits and compensation totaling over 2.8 million Baht. Furthermore, medical expenses and disbursements would be paid for the 15 injured people. The Department of Labour Protection and Welfare will investigate and if the employer is found in violation with safety laws, it will be prosecuted immediately.
On April 11, 2019, Labour Minister, H.E. Police General Adul Sangsingkeo reported that the Ministry of Labour expressing its condolences to relatives and families of the deceased from the fire incident in the storage room of the office building on the 8th floor, Building B, connected to Central World Shopping Center, Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok on April 10. The Labour Minister had ordered the Social Security Office and the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare in the responsible areas to investigate and provide legal assistance.
Pol.Gen. Adul added that from the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare’s investigation, it was found that the automatic fire extinguishing system and the fire alarm system did not work. This related to the ministerial regulations, prescribing standards for the management and operation of occupational safety, health and working environment relating to fire prevention and suppression, BE 2555 which states that fire protection and suppression systems in the workplace must follow the Ministerial Regulations and must be ready for effective and safe use. Article 14 states that if the employer provides the automatic fire extinguishing system, it must meet the standards of the Engineering Institute of Thailand under Royal Patronage, whereby the president valve that controls the water supply system or other extinguishers must always be on and have a supervisor to use. In this regard, Section 53 stated that if any employer violates or fails to comply with the standards prescribed in the Ministerial Regulations issued under Section 8, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding 400,000 baht or both.
In the case of 2 employees of the company who are insured persons who passed away, the families will be entitled to compensation for the death as follows: 1) Mr. Sakchai Chareonlarp, 37 years old, will receive funeral assistance of 33,000 Baht, compensation for death of 1,260,000 Baht, and accumulated pension contributions of 131,631.20 Baht, totaling 1,424,631.20 Baht, 2 ) Mr. Arthit Kham Sai, 41 years old, will receive funeral assistance of 33,000 Baht, compensation for death of 1,260,000 Baht, and accumulated pension contributions of 98,309.06 Baht, totaling 1,391,309.06 Baht. The Labour Minister will provide social security benefits to help the families of the two deceased on April 18.
As for the 15 workers who were injured from choking smoke, 10 are still hospitalized at the Police Hospital and 5 at Chulalongkorn Hospital. The Ministry of Labour’s Social Security Office will pay medical expenses and compensation for lack of income according to the law.
————————————-
Spokesperson and Publication Sub-Division/
Division of Public Relations/
News by Chaninthorn Phettab/
Information by Social Security Office, Department of Labour Protection and Welfare/
11 April 2019/
