IMNA – Over 2,000 workers from shoe factories located near the Thai-Burma border near Three Pagodas Pass Town, Karen State, today demanded an increase in their daily wages to cover the rising costs of commodities.
According to a negotiator between workers and the factory owners, “The workers just asked the bosses for an increase of 20 baht per day due to the increased price of basic commodities. The bosses said they can’t afford a salary increase, and told workers if they aren’t satisfied with their wages, they could resign.”
However, the factory owners finally agreed to pay each worker an additional 10 baht per day, and to share one percent of profits with workers, said the negotiator.
Over 2,000 workers from four factories, including PTK Company and Basani Company, work about one mile from Three Pagodas Pass. Although many workers stopped working to demand an increased wage, most will resume working soon.
The workers’ daily wages vary from 70–115 baht per day. New workers earn 7 baht per hour, while senior workers get 9 baht per hour. The workers have to work 10 hours per day. Double wages are paid to workers for overtime.
The workers are living in Three Pagodas Pass, and they pass the border checkpoint every day by paying 5 baht per worker to the border development group. They don’t have work permit cards because they enter the Thai side in the morning and return in the evening. Some factories send trucks to pick up their workers, while other workers must hire their own transportation.
The wages for workers from Three Pagodas Pass working in Thailand is less than the wages paid to workers in other areas of Thailand.
