Burmese migrants still in conflict with employer need emergency assistance

Friday, 15 October 2010 00:00

Demonstrations have been taking place at the Dechapanich Fishing Net Factory (DFN) for the
last month and continue because no agreement has yet been reached. Approximately 1000
migrant workers are still demonstrating to restore fundamental labor rights. Even though the
employer agreed to pay the rest of their daily wages last week on Saturday (09/10/2010), they
were postponed to be paid on 13/10/2010.  Meanwhile, waiting to receive their salaries,
migrants have been threatened by an unknown gunman presumed to be connected to the
employers.

“Several shots were fired into the air and although the unknown gunman escaped, we were able
to confiscate his motorbike. We were afraid to sleep after that and provided our own security
guards” recounts a migrant representative from the strike.

Ma Oo, a representative from Burmese Association of Thailand (BAT), also said that “they
[Burmese migrants] do not receive the protection of Thai law and their employer is doing
whatever he wishes. Now, I am living with the migrants. Approximately 100 Burmese migrants
fled from the factory because they were so afraid of the threats made by the factory’s guards.
Thirty migrants have already gone to Bangkok and 70 people went to the Wat Pa Thamma
Uttayarn monastery.”

Non government organizations and the law society of Thailand are providing assistance to
Burmese migrants and recently visited the factory, in order to facilitate a compromise between
the migrants and the factory owner.  Burmese migrants anxiously anticipated their paychecks
but have grown worried because after the employer went back on his word and postponed the
date, he announced that he is not going to pay in his compound and instead will pay
somewhere else.

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Burmese migrants still in conflict with employer need emergency assistance
Friday, 15 October 2010 00:00

“We are treated like animals by the employers who constantly change their minds. Migrants
have been waiting to get their salaries for many days. Among them are some pregnant women
who do not have enough food and water.  I was so upset to see these terrible events. We tried
to move migrants to the Buddhist temple in Khon Kean.” A woman NGO worker recounted
tearfully.

Currently, 668 Burmese migrant workers are living at the Buddhist temple in Khom Kean and
they are still waiting to receive their salaries. Some of them have searched for new employers
and departed from the monastery. Burmese migrants are still in need of emergency assistance
and most of them are afraid of harassment by their employer. The local Thai community has
offered to provide security for tonight.

“Burmese migrants had to pay 10,000 Baht (approximately $330) to an agent to get their
temporary passports and work permits for before their departure.  The migrant honestly
believed that they would be fairly treated by Thai employers because they are holding the legal
documents.  I believe that the Burmese government has to response to these issues and I
would like to ask both the Thai and Burmese governments to respect basic labor rights” said Mr.
Kyaw Taung, the general secretary of BAT. He is helping Burmese migrants at the temple. He
also expressed his appreciation for the Thai abbot from the monastery who provided food and
shelter for victims of the factory strike.

According to the Dechapanich Fishing Net Factory Ltd., Part (DFN)’s Website, the factory was
the first fishing net factory in Khon Kaen province, northeastern Thailand, established in 1976
by Mr. Wanit Dechanubeksa. Nowadays, the factory exports products to many countries mainly
America, European countries, Africa, Asia and other high quality markets all around the world.

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