Ailing textile workers win 12-yr fight for compensation

An extract of an article in Bangkok Post – Thailand, 2-7-2007 about a shaming battle of ill ex-worker of a textile factory for their rights.

PENCHAN CHAROENSUTHAPIN

After a 12-year battle, 37 former employees of a textile factory who developed a work-related lung disease have been awarded compensation ranging from 60,000 to 110,000 baht ($1,800-3,300) by the Central Labour Court……………

………………The management has indicated it will appeal and has until July 27 to do so.

Thirty-seven former workers of Bangkok Textile Factory were diagnosed with byssinosis, or cotton-dust lung disease.

They filed a 50-million-baht lawsuit in 1995 after the factory management turned down their request for medical costs of 2,000-3,000 baht a month. Without jobs they had to turn to loan sharks to borrow money to pay bills and feed their families……………

………………..On September 30, 2003, the Central Labour Court ordered Bangkok Textile to pay 120,000 baht to each complainant. The management appealed and the Supreme Court, which on May 14 last year referred the case back to the lower court. The court was asked to check the statute of limitations and any safety measures taken by the factory to protect workers’ health. The court found that workers were exposed to health hazards and that protective masks were substandard………………….

Collected by Antoni P. Uni, Bangkok 23-8-2007

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