Non-formal workers deserve a helping hand

To mark Labour Day today, the president of the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee Wilaiwan sae Tia talks about efforts to help about 20 million non-formal workers and other labourers.

Tell us what the situation is with non-formal labour.

Most Thai workers are non-formal. They work in the agriculture, service and transport sectors with no access to the government's Social Security Fund. These people, especially taxi drivers, motorcyclists and garbage collectors are most at risk of getting occupational diseases because they work in unsafe environments. They get small incomes, lower than the country's minimum wages. So they have to borrow money from loan sharks and slip into serious debt. Labour activists have discussed this problem over the years and again we want the government to deal with it seriously. .

We have also found that many non-formal workers, who are poorly educated, are afraid of losing their jobs if they call for higher pay and other benefits from those who hire them.

What are the obstacles stopping non-formal workers from accessing the government's social welfare scheme?

I think it's about obsolete laws being enforced in the country. The laws include labour protection and the Social Security Fund. Most non-formal workers are still unable to pay the high monthly fee required for the fund because their monthly income is uncertain. So the government is duty-bound to help amend the laws so that they will be able to be members of the fund. The government and state agencies concerned must be sincere in dealing with this problem.

Moreover, we want the Office of the Social Security Fund to be turned into a public organisation which should have its own executive board and chairman independent of politics and the bureaucracy. The executive board members and chairman must be highly recognised by people in society and must have a better understanding of the labour situation and labour rights. Most importantly, they must be honest and straightforward because they will have to administer the huge fund.

What have you done in the campaign to see non-formal workers included in the Social Security Fund?

Labour leaders have worked closely with government agencies concerned, non-governmental organisations on labour rights and labour law experts from leading universities to disseminate information about the campaign to non-formal workers over the years. Many seem to understand the campaign well and have volunteered to press the government to achieve the goal. We see disseminating information as key to helping our campaign's success in the future.

What do you want the government to do this Labour Day?

We want the government to increase minimum wages for workers because at present it is harder for them to make ends meet due to soaring prices of consumer goods and petrol. We also want it to come up with effective measures to control the prices of staple goods. The government should help low-paid labourers easily access its low-priced food project now under way.
(Source - http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/01May2008_news04.php)