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LABOUR
**Writer: LAMPHAI INTATHEP
Published: 5/09/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
A 250,000 baht compensation payment to the parents of a migrant worker fatally injured at work brings a ray of hope to more than 2 million Burmese working in Thailand, a legal expert says.
Parents of Sai Htun, a 17-year-old Burmese man who died as a result of a
2007 workplace accident, have reached a settlement with their son's employers who will pay 250,000 baht compensation.
The settlement was reached at Chiang Mai Labour Court after protracted negotiations, said Somchai Homla-or, secretary-general of the Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF).
''This success gives hope to migrants working in dangerous workplaces in the country. Despite the fact that Sai Htun was an unregistered worker, justice was served.''
Many migrant workers have been injured in workplace accidents, but few receive compensation because they are afraid of pursuing legal action over fears of being charged for breaching immigration regulations, he said.
On June 20, 2007, two Shan migrant construction workers, Sai Htun and Sai Boon, were seriously injured in an accident while working on a local authority flood defence project in Chiang Mai's Mae Rim district.
Sai Boon, 27, suffered lung injuries, a fractured shoulder, severe throat injuries and permanent hearing damage. Sai Htun died from brain injuries four days later.
Mr Somchai said Sai Htun was paid only 170 baht a day to work on the project. His parents had to foot medical bills of 5,000 baht after the accident and another 20,000 baht for the funeral, while the employers denied responsibility and offered no assistance.
''Sai Htun's human rights are still protected by the Workmen's Compensation Law and the Labour Protection Law, although he entered the country illegally,'' said Mr Somchai,
''Compensation must be paid to all migrant workers in the case of any work-related ailments,'' he said.
The employers refused to compensate the workers saying migrants were not entitled to accident compensation under Thai law.
The two cases were submitted to the Chiang Mai Social Security Office (SSO) in September 2007 seeking compensation from the Workers' Compensation Fund.
SSO issued an order for the employers to pay compensation of 300,000 baht to Sai Htun's relatives. The employer failed to make the payments.
Activists helped get the Labour Court to take up the case in June last year.
***From SawKu (IRC)email
**News
» Local News
LABOUR
**Writer: LAMPHAI INTATHEP
Published: 5/09/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
A 250,000 baht compensation payment to the parents of a migrant worker fatally injured at work brings a ray of hope to more than 2 million Burmese working in Thailand, a legal expert says.
Parents of Sai Htun, a 17-year-old Burmese man who died as a result of a
2007 workplace accident, have reached a settlement with their son's employers who will pay 250,000 baht compensation.
The settlement was reached at Chiang Mai Labour Court after protracted negotiations, said Somchai Homla-or, secretary-general of the Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF).
''This success gives hope to migrants working in dangerous workplaces in the country. Despite the fact that Sai Htun was an unregistered worker, justice was served.''
Many migrant workers have been injured in workplace accidents, but few receive compensation because they are afraid of pursuing legal action over fears of being charged for breaching immigration regulations, he said.
On June 20, 2007, two Shan migrant construction workers, Sai Htun and Sai Boon, were seriously injured in an accident while working on a local authority flood defence project in Chiang Mai's Mae Rim district.
Sai Boon, 27, suffered lung injuries, a fractured shoulder, severe throat injuries and permanent hearing damage. Sai Htun died from brain injuries four days later.
Mr Somchai said Sai Htun was paid only 170 baht a day to work on the project. His parents had to foot medical bills of 5,000 baht after the accident and another 20,000 baht for the funeral, while the employers denied responsibility and offered no assistance.
''Sai Htun's human rights are still protected by the Workmen's Compensation Law and the Labour Protection Law, although he entered the country illegally,'' said Mr Somchai,
''Compensation must be paid to all migrant workers in the case of any work-related ailments,'' he said.
The employers refused to compensate the workers saying migrants were not entitled to accident compensation under Thai law.
The two cases were submitted to the Chiang Mai Social Security Office (SSO) in September 2007 seeking compensation from the Workers' Compensation Fund.
SSO issued an order for the employers to pay compensation of 300,000 baht to Sai Htun's relatives. The employer failed to make the payments.
Activists helped get the Labour Court to take up the case in June last year.
***From SawKu (IRC)email
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