"IndustriALL urges Thai authorities to settle factory case", 18 January 2022

...IndustriALL has written to the Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayut Chan-o-cha, urging his government to support the former staff of a garment factory which unexpectedly ceased operations last March.

More than 1,300 workers at Brilliant Alliance Thai Global Ltd – which supplied the likes of Victoria’s Secret – lost their jobs and subsequently went without overtime, holiday or severance pay.

In a letter address to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Labour, Suchart Chomklin, IndustriALL says: “... we call on you to make the full payment in advance and get the reimbursement from the company after the liquidation process is completed.”...

For the 1,388 Thai workers – many of which are women – the management team’s decision to avoid paying its staff has exacerbated already difficult financial circumstances during the pandemic.

IndustriALL says it wrote to the government in October of last year but hasn’t heard back from authorities regarding an outcome.

“Your government must take responsibility for bringing in the errant employer, and immediately prosecute the company owner in accordance with Thai laws,” the letter says.

“Strict enforcement of the laws can deter irresponsible employers from violating workers’ rights again.”

It concludes: “Finally, we urge your government to drop immediately investigations and charges against six unionists, who held a protest in front of the government building in October. They were demanding the government to resolve the dispute. Please respect workers’ freedom of expression and assembly during the COVID-19 pandemic.”