A Myanmar labor rights advocate from AAC, Ko Ye Min, has revealed that an employer is attempting to deceive the family of a Myanmar worker who died in a construction site accident in Ayutthaya, Thailand. The incident occurred on June 20th, when a 53-year-old Myanmar worker fell from a second-floor height and subsequently died in the hospital. The case has drawn attention due to apparent attempts by the employer to misrepresent the circumstances of the death and minimize compensation payments.
The employer has offered only 100,000 baht in compensation to the deceased worker’s family and has allegedly filed false reports suggesting that the worker jumped or fell of his own accord. The employer’s engagement with the situation has been minimal, attending the funeral only once and refusing to take further responsibility. Communication regarding compensation has been conducted solely through the employer’s lawyer, who maintains that 100,000 baht is the maximum amount they are willing to pay.
Ko Ye Min explained that according to workplace accident insurance regulations, a worker who dies on duty should receive at minimum 780,000 baht in compensation. Additional benefits should include 50,000 baht for funeral expenses, and when combined with other entitled benefits and employer’s gratitude payments, the total compensation should approach one million baht. This stands in stark contrast to the 100,000 baht currently being offered to the family.
Currently, the MHAC alliance and representatives from the National Unity Government’s Ministry of Labor are working with the deceased worker’s family to reopen the case at relevant local offices. They are pursuing legal channels to ensure proper compensation and to establish the true circumstances of the death. This case is being treated as a significant matter of workers’ rights and justice, with concerned organizations giving it special attention to ensure that the worker’s family receives fair treatment and appropriate compensation under the law.
