Firework factory owner to be charged

BANGKOK, May 6 (TNA) -- Department of Labour Protection and Welfare has planned to charge the owner of the firework factory in Suphan Buri province with illegal possession of dangerous chemical, after an explosion at the factor killed six Myanmar labours. Labour Protection and Welfare Director-general Ms Pannee Sriyudhsak said initial inspection carried out by her department's officials and other concerned agencies revealed that the factory did not have an address. She said that four out of the six Myanmar workers killed by the blast were identified, as the other two did not leave any identification documents behind. The Department of Employment is currently being coordinated to investigate whether the six migrant workers have been working in Thailand legally or not. Ms Pannee said authorities have speculated that the explosion occurred due to the lack of knowledge from the labours of what they were working with, as a trace of potassium sulfate, considered a hazardous chemical, and must be reported in to authorities if in possession. Ms Pannee said that if the owner of the factory has failed to report the authorities over the possession of the chemical, the owner could face up to one year imprisonment and/ or a fine of no more than 400,000 baht. Presently, the police is trying to track down the factory's owner for questioning. (TNA)