Seventeen Myanmar workers who were terminated from their jobs in Thailand’s Nakhon Pathom district have successfully recovered their compensation through the collaborative efforts of the National Unity Government’s (NUG) Ministry of Labor and the Myanmar Humanitarian Assistance Coalition (MHAC). The workers received 130,000 Thai Baht in compensation, as confirmed by AAC Ko Ye Min from the MHAC alliance to Yangon Modern News Agency.
The case began when these 17 Myanmar workers each paid 3,000 Baht to a Thai woman who promised to arrange transfers to new employers. The workers also surrendered their work-related documents upon starting their employment. However, on July 15, the factory failed to process their employer transfers, resulting in their work permits expiring. After nearly four months, they were suddenly terminated from their positions. The workers then sought assistance from the MHAC alliance, who worked together with NUG Labor Ministry officials to file formal complaints at the relevant local labor protection offices.
Following these legal proceedings, on August 26, the workers successfully recovered their seized transfer fees, compensation money, and all their documentation. The compensation included both the initial payments made for employer transfers and additional compensation for their losses. According to AAC Ko Ye Min from MHAC, the workers have now received all their paperwork back and are free to seek new employment opportunities with different employers. This successful resolution demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated efforts between labor rights organizations and the NUG in protecting Myanmar workers’ rights in Thailand.
