Tensions rise as over 700 foreign workers protest unpaid wages at Chinese-owned factory in Prachinburi
الملخص
Date Reported: 18 أغسطس 2024
الموقع: تايلند
الشركات
Huafa Group - Parent Company , Founder PCB - Other Value Chain Entity , Rojana Industrial Park - Other Value Chain Entityالفئة المتأثرة
Total individuals affected: 700
عمال مهاجرون: ( Number unknown - ميانمار , البناء , Men , Unknown migration status ) , عمال مهاجرون: ( Number unknown - كمبوديا , البناء , Men , Unknown migration status ) , عمال مهاجرون: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , البناء , Women , Unknown migration status )القضايا
Wage Theftالرد
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre
Story containing response: (Find out more)
الإجراءات المتخذة: The delay in payment was initially investigated by the Ministry of Labour, with delays to wages beginning in June owing to slow international money transfers from a parent company in China. Workers had been provided with temporary financial relief, while the company had said it would pay missing wages the week after the protest. One worker leader from Myanmar said he believed the factory had already paid the subcontractors but had not passed the money onto the workers themselves. The Resource Centre reached out to Rojana Industrial Park Founder PCB and its parent Huafa Group for a response. Rojana Industrial Park did not respond, but Founder PCB did respond, including inviting Rojana Industrial Estate to outline its relationship with the factory, and to disclose any human rights due diligence it undertakes on businesses operating in its industrial parks. Founder PCB said the company has consistently complied with all laws, regulations, and ethical standards, fulfilled its contractual duties without violations, and encourages partners to do the same. The Resource Centre could not verify the identity of the Chinese factory to invite it to respond.
نوع المصدر: News outlet
Over 700 migrant workers from Myanmar and Cambodia gathered in protest at a Chinese-owned factory in Rojana Industrial Park, Sri Maha Pho District, Prachinburi, blocking entry and exit to the factory on August 16. The workers, who have not received their wages for two months, are demanding full payment and refusing to allow delivery trucks into the premises until negotiations are reached. The protest has escalated since yesterday evening and shows no signs of resolution.
Workers are struggling with mounting financial pressures, including rent payments, and have rejected an initial offer of 500 baht each as temporary relief. A worker representative stated, “We no longer trust the promises of the subcontractors after waiting over two months without receiving any wages. This offer only fueled further outrage among the protesters.”...
According to Mr. Min, a worker representative, the Chinese-owned factory hired laborers through 11 different Chinese subcontracting agencies. One of these agencies has failed to pay workers for three months. The factory reportedly distributed 1 million baht to three major agencies, each receiving 300,000 baht to cover workers’ rent.
However, the workers are demanding full payment of their wages, leading to a stalemate in negotiations. Each worker is owed a significant amount, and the situation remains unresolved, with over 400 workers continuing to guard the factory. Many female workers have returned to their accommodations to await further updates.
Mr. Aung, a leader among the Myanmar workers, expressed deep skepticism about the subcontractors, stating that the factory had already paid the subcontractors, but the funds were not passed on to the laborers...