Bangkok: In a symbolic act of protest, two Members of Parliament from the Prachachon Party and a group of laid-off workers gathered in front of the Parliament Pavilion to collect moss, calling on the government to approve a budget to compensate affected employees. They highlighted the disparity between government spending and public welfare, noting that despite extensive budget debates in 2016, citizens have not received tangible benefits.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Sia Champathong, Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives Labor Committee, and Mr. Phanthil Nuamchum received a letter from former employees of Yanphan Company. The workers are seeking allocation of the national budget to address their grievances, particularly concerning layoffs without compensation. Yanphan Company Limited ceased operations on November 26, 2024, leaving over 800 employees without severance pay, in violation of the Labor Protection Act B.E. 2541. The act mandates employers to provide severance as a safeguard for employees' security.
The workers are urging the government to use the central budget to provide immediate relief to the affected workers from Alpha Spinning, AMC Spinning, Body Fashion, and Yan Phun, totaling up to 3,000 individuals. The proposal was endorsed by Mr. Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labor, who signed the budget request on February 11, 2025. Despite follow-ups, the Cabinet has yet to consider approving the budget, leaving the workers in financial distress.
Mr. Sia emphasized that the workers have been without their rightful compensation for 4-5 years, leading to significant hardship despite having filed numerous complaints with various agencies. Mr. Phanthil criticized the misallocation of the substantial central budget and called for urgent resolution of the workers' issues, citing the ongoing discussions on the 2026 budget bill which have overlooked workers' compensation.
In a gesture of protest and cleanup, the group, along with the MPs, collected algae in the Sala Kaew area, highlighting the neglected state of public spaces compared to the unused budget for worker compensation. They displayed a sign reading, "Central budget = invisible. The people didn't get a single baht. The government uses tax money as water but lets the people starve to death." Security officers were present to maintain order during the demonstration.