The Labour Ministry has said it is helping the employees who suddenly lost their jobs after the Central Bankruptcy Court seized the assets of their employer.
On Monday, officials from the Legal Execution Department came to Thaimart Corporation, a wholesaler and supplier to small vendors at Bangkok's Sampheng market. They told all employees to leave the premises, chained the gate and posted a court order dated Jan 22 temporarily seizing the company's assets.
On Thursday, 30 representatives of the employees met officials at the Labour Protection and Welfare Department to seek help.
Director-general Pannee Sriyutthasak said on Saturday that under the court order, Thaimart no longer had management power and could not pay salaries as it had been foreclosed.
"We'll bring the employees to talk with legal execution officials on Tuesday to see whether the company is still employing the staff," she said. "If it is, the company has to pay outstanding salaries quickly. But if they are no longer employed, the company needs to pay them compensation."
By law, workers with four months or more of tenure are entitled to compensation equal to one month of their salaries. The maximum is 10 months for those serving 10 years or more, she added.
In the meantime, her department will ask the Social Security Office to pay the employees benefits equal to 50% of their salaries for six months. The Labour Ministry will also find them jobs and help train them for the job market.
Thaimart has seven branches in Bangkok and nearby provinces, as well as one warehouse. It employs 380 people.
Latti Sanrak, director of the distribution centre and warehouse, said the workers demanded management give them explanations.
"It was so sudden. We came to work as usual on Monday, only to be told to go back home. We can't possibly find new jobs at such short notice. At the very least we want the pay for this month."
The employees also want management to come forward and tell them whether they are still employed.
They also want to know when they will receive this month's salaries and what benefits they are entitled to. They also want to know whether the shareholders will continue to operate.