Bangkok Bank staff demand better pay

Bangkok Bank staff demand better pay

Around 100 employees of Bangkok Bank staged a protest in front of the company's headquarters on Silom Road in Bangkok on Tuesday, demanding bigger salary increases and a return to previous bonus levels.

The Bangkok Bank Workers Union submitted a proposal to executives requesting management resume payment of an annual four-month bonus. Workers now receive a two-month annual bonus.

The employees also want management to resume paying a 450,000 baht lump sum to employees on retirement. Now retirees receive 300,000 baht.

The union has asked management to restore a 6% salary increase for all employees after the bank, Thailand's largest lender by assets, decided on a 3% salary raise for permanent staff and 6% for marketing staff.

Another request is to allow a flat rate 7% contribution to the provident fund for all staff, instead of applying different levels to different staff.

The union will have talks with executives at the Labour Ministry on Thursday. If the two sides cannot agree on the issue, the union leader warned the protest could grow bigger by working with the Federation of Bank and Financial Worker's Unions of Thailand to draw employees from other banks to join it. If there was still no response from management, they would recommend a strike.

(story continues below)

Post Today photo

Chaiwat Makhamchan, chairman of the Bangkok Bank Workers Union, said the union wants the bank's executives to follow the example of Thai Airways International, which with a profit of seven billion baht still accepted demands from its labour union.

The national flag carrier agreed to a salary increase of 7% for low-ranking staff whose salary not exceed 30,000 baht and bonus payments based on performance.

Mr Chaiwat said Bangkok Bank had recently announced a 30 billion baht profit in 2012, but the bank paid a lower bonus and had inferior welfare benefits compared to other companies.

"We don't want to cause damage to the bank, but if we cannot reach agreement the level of our protest will be intensified," he said.

The Bangkok Bank staff were following up on  the earlier success of a protest by Thai Airways Internatonal workers. On Jan 18-19  a strike by about 400 of THAI ground staff caused flight and luggage delays at Suvarnabhumi airport. They won agreement for salary and bonus increases.

However, the THAI case has yet to be properly settled as the agreement on salary increases and bonus payments need the approval by the board of directors.

If the board fails to approve the deal the THAI labour union has said it will renew its protest.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (22)