Thai Labour Minister narrowly escapes from angry workers

BANGKOK, February 27 (TNA) - Thai Labour Minister Phadermchai Sasomsab narrowly escaped from angry workers Monday, after airing his comments that their rallying protest against the government's 300-baht daily minimum wage policy in front of his ministry appeared to damage national image. Phadermchai met over 1,000 workers of Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Co., Ltd and Silver Ice Ltd. gathering in front of his Labour Ministry to seek his help to cope with what they have claimed negative impacts from the new minimum wage rise policy, but the minister blamed the demonstrators for damaging the national image and confidence in Thailand among international investors. The minister insisted that the wage increase to 300 baht a day, effective on April 1, 2012 in first seven provinces, will end Thailand's long-time low wages, but for workers who have worked for longer periods and have earned more than 300 baht a day may not enjoy the new wage hike and they need to negotiate with their employers by themselves. Manas Kosol, Chairman of the Confederation of Thai Labour, showed disappointment with the minister and demanded his replacement, saying that the labour minister looked down on workers and ignored possible impacts on over 10 million workers in the country. The labour leader vowed that his confederation would not return to the Labour Ministry again because the ministry was undependable, but his group would later go to Government House to seek direct help from Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and to demand for a new labour minister. The labour minister had a heated dispute with the demonstrators and police had to separate both sides to prevent a clash; while the protesting workers booed as the incumbent labour minister reportedly had negative responses to local workers for the second time. (TNA)