Panel to be set up to assist Thai berry pickers in Sweden

BANGKOK, October 2 (TNA) - Thailand’s Ministry of Labour is considering to set up a special committee tasked with solving problems for Thai nationals working overseas, including berry pickers who have not yet received their last tranche of wages from their Swedish employers. Labour Minister Padermchai Sasomsap told reporters Tuesday that the new committee, to be chaired by him and comprising representatives from his ministry and relevant private agencies, is expected to be set up by the end of October. According to the labour minister, the new panel will be in charge of gathering relevant information of Thai nationals working overseas who have filed complaints with his ministry. The information would cover the number of workers, their travel methods, wages or salaries and other welfare benefits, as well as their job placement brokers. The minister said that if the troubled Thai workers are found to be sent abroad by any Thai job placement firm, the local job placement broker will be invited for talks to help seek solutions for the troubled Thai workers as soon as possible. The minister said, meanwhile, that he has also ordered his ministry's Department of Employment to speed up an official study on what should be the best way, with most worthwhile, for Thai workers who want to be berry pickers in Sweden so that negotiations will be subsequently held with Swedish employers to ensure payrolls of the Thai berry pickers. (TNA)