A group of labour activists yesterday called on the government to speed up compensation to more than 1,300 factory workers who lost their jobs in March.
The demand was part of their rally outside Government House to mark "Decent Work Day" in their campaign for better work, a living wage, a safe workplace, and other conditions.
The rally was held by the Labour Network for People's Rights and the labour union of Triumph International (Thailand).
In a letter to the government, the activists asked the government to set aside a portion of the budget to compensate 1,388 workers of a clothing and underwear factory who lost their jobs early this year.
The compensation was estimated at 242.6 million baht.
According to the activists, the compensation was overdue and the government should intervene by paying the laid-off workers and collecting the money from the firm, Brilliant Alliance Thai Global Co.
They said the workers lost their jobs and their plight was made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic.
They turned up for work at their factory in Samut Prakan's Bang Sao Thong district on March 11 only to find it had been permanently closed.
Also, the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare said yesterday the Labour Ministry has stepped in to alleviate hardship following the lay-offs.
Director-general Niyom Songkaew said the department paid 22.3 million baht to 1,231 workers from this April to August, using money from the employees' fund. He said the Social Security Office has also paid 65.5 million baht in compensation for job losses while the Department of Employment has offered 1,834 jobs to the group.
He said the department is consulting the Budget Bureau on the group's proposal involving payment of compensation from a central fund, adding that lawsuits have been lodged against the firm.