Thai oil tanker crew seek help from labour officials in Singapore

BANGKOK, December 30 (TNA) - Officials from Thailand's Labour Protection and Welfare Department in Singapore is negotiating with a boat owner in the island state, after 13 Thai crew filed a complaint about their unpaid wages and poor working conditions. Thai Labour Ministry Spokesman Anunchai Uthaipattanacheep told journalists on Friday that all the 13 Thai crew members submitted a letter to the Thai Office of Labour Affairs in Singapore on December 28, seeking help for their unpaid wages and for returning home. The spokesman, who is also an inspector to the Thai Ministry of Labour, said the Thai crew, who worked on the “Danai 8” oil tanker in Singapore, claimed that their employer breached the contract, as they have not got their wages for four months, while also having faced poor working conditions. The spokesman stated that the Thai workers have tendered their resignation, but it remains unclear about their employer's further action. According to the spokesman, the Thai Labour officials are, thus, negotiating with the boat owner for paying wages to the Thai workers under Thailand's 2015 Maritime Labour Act and his minsitry will report updates after Friday's negotiation. (TNA)