Messages Passed From Workers To Thai PM on May Day

CHIANG MAI, May 1 (TNA) - Representatives for several groups of workers across Thailand have addressed to the prime minister the problems workers have been facing on the occasion of the International Workers Day. In the northern province of Chiang Mai, more than 100 workers across the country including representatives for Worker Solidarity Association (WSA) and Migrant Workers Federation (MWF), gathered at Chiang Mai Provincial Hall on Thursday and made a May Day speech before submitting a letter addressing problems currently faced by workers to the caretaker prime minister via Wichian Puttiwinyu, the Governor of Chiang Mai. According to the letter, the workers called on the government to set up the committee regarding the 300 baht daily minimum wage policy and to end the exploitation of migrant workers by brokers in the country. In Ubon Ratchathai Province in the Thai Northeast, workers urged the government to seek ways to alleviate the impacts of economic crisis which increases the costs of living and causes the prices of goods to rise rapidly, resulting in more expenses than income. Meanwhile, the latest report from the Ministry of Public Health shows that more than 4 million Thai workers have been diagnosed with chronic diseases. The ministry will work on improving the safety and healthy work environment, targeting 800 community enterprises nationwide, as well as establish clinics for treating work-related illnesses in hospitals in every province. (TNA)