Page 117 - Dignity and justice for all of us our voices are heard in Thailand

Article 23

“Establishing labour unions is a fundamental
right for the entitlement of protection”

Commentary Ms. Vilaiwan Sea-Tia

Ms. Vilaiwan Sea-Tia has been serving as a another factor that results in the gathering
committee member of the Labour Union and establishment of the Labour Union. Such
since 1983. She was a chairperson of the a union advocates for the employer to comply
working group for women labour integration with the law as well as to provide more
during 2001 and 2005. She now holds a welfare than is required by law in a fair
position as the President of the Thai Labour manner and in the interest of the employee.
Solidarity Committee. However, there are still gaps in the law, which
leads to basic rights violations.
She believes that there are still several
challenges to ensure that labour rights are In case of labour rights violations, she
fully protected in Thailand. These challenges describes the steps used by the Labour Union
relate to cases such as non-compensated sick and the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee in
leave, termination without remuneration, no solving a problem. First, they will call for
pays on public holidays and pays that are less coordination among agencies concerned
than the minimum wage. Each year there are such as the Department of Labour Protection
almost 200,000 cases where the work causes and Welfare in the area and the Ministry of
illness, accidents, disabilities and death. Labour. If the problem still persists, they will
Moreover, the employer violates basic rights file a complaint to the Office of the Human
of the employee and does not comply with Rights Commission. In some cases, lawsuits
the labour protection law. The employee’s will be filed with the Labour Court.
inaccessibility to the provident fund is also

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