Cabinet okays hiring strike-breakers

The cabinet on Tuesday approved the recruitment of 171 new rail staff to replace striking train drivers, as proposed by Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum, acting government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said.

The new staff will be recruited from retired engine drivers and train mechanics who have received training at the railway technical school.

The State Railway of Thailand board earlier approved a change to a regulation to allow 28 former  staff to return to temporary employment.

They are to replace locomotive drivers in the far South who have stopped work since Oct 16, claiming that the locomotives are in disrepair and that travel on southern routes is unsafe.

Train services in the far South remained at a standstill on Tuesday.