Thousands strike against govt's daily minimum wage policy

BANGKOK, February 27 (TNA) - Over 1,000 employees of two Thai firms rallied at the Ministry of Labour in Bangkok Monday, demanding for the government’s urgent assistance for what they have claimed negative impacts from the new 300-baht daily minimum wage policy. The protesters, from Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Co., Ltd and Silver Ice Ltd., called for Labour Minister Phadermchai Sasomsab to expedite remedial measures for workers affected by the government's 300-baht daily minimum wage hike, which will officially kick off in first seven provinces on April 1, 2012. According to the workers’ representatives of Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Co., Ltd., their employers would offer the new wage to only new employees while those earlier employed with years of experiences would not get the wage lift and would have their welfare allowances, 50 baht a day each for food costs and another 1,200 baht a month each for other costs of living, be unfairly included as their payrolls in order to meet the 300-baht daily minumum wage required by the government. The workers of Silver Ice Ltd. claimed that their employer have unfairly applied to multi-standard employment contracts concerning workers' holidays, leaves and hard work rewards and have refused to negotiate with employees, citing the government's new wage hike policy, and have announced an indefinite closure of the company as of February 27. The workers of both companies said they would stop working from February 27 onward until their demands are met. Labour authorities were scheduled to meet both the workers' representatives and their employers this afternoon to help settle their disputes. (TNA)