On October 5, 2022, the Department of Employment’s Director-General, Mr. Pairoj Chotikasathien, reported that the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security had coordinated internally with the Embassy in Helsinki, and the Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on 17 Thai workers who filed a complaint to the Finnish police for cases of forced labour, borrowing money from Thailand, bad accommodation and unfair wages. Today, the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Boonchob Suttamanaswong, assigned him and his team to pick up this group of Thai workers who have returned with a coordinator as the fruit-picking season has ended. The group will arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 16.25 hours on Finnair flight AY 143. Seventeen workers complained out of a total of 209 returning workers.
Mr. Pairoj said that on this issue, the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence General Prayuth Chan-ocha and the Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who oversees the Ministry of Labour, have a concern about all Thai workers who travel to work abroad, as each person is a pillar of their family and each year they generate a large income for the nation. The Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, charged the Department of Employment, whose mission is to send Thai workers to work abroad, to take good care of Thai workers working abroad, and to receive complaints and facilitate workers traveling to work abroad in case of needing support.
Mr. Pairoj continued that the Department of Employment’s data shows that during the 2021 season, 3,201 Thai workers traveled to work in Finland. The average income was around 110,541 Baht/person, representing a total income of 703,832,250 Baht before deducting expenses and 325,874,549 Baht after deductions. There were complaints about wages or working conditions from 70 people, representing 2 percent of all those who traveled to work in Finland. The Department of Employment has already solved all the issues. For the 2022 season, 3,966 Thai workers traveled to Finland for work, from which 1,666 returned, and no complaints have been filed yet.
The Ministry of Labour’s Department of Employment has continued efforts to improve protection for Thai workers traveling to Finland for wild fruit picking work in terms of income and welfare. There is an effort to encourage Finland to protect Thai workers in the form of Seasonal Workers because, at present, Thai workers still travel to work on tourist visas. The Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, recently led a delegation to visit Thai wild fruit collectors in Finland and Sweden during September 3 – 13, 2022. He paid a courtesy call to Mrs. Tuula Haatainen, the Finnish Minister of Employment under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. In their meeting, they discuss the issue of Thai workers working in Finland for wild fruit picking work following international employment standards, driving Thai workers to be protected by the laws of both countries as well as encouraging employers in Thailand and Finland to provide welfare and benefits which should be given to Thai workers traveling to collect wild fruits in Finland.
The Ministry of Labour has set travel measures for work in Finland for the 2022 season, taking care of workers before they go, while working abroad, and when returning to Thailand. The measures include: 1) Measures before traveling for work. The Department of Employment held a meeting to discuss with those involved to set measures to protect Thai workers, providing measures to travel to work in Finland for the 2022 season. The measures ensure that purchasers of wild fruits/ coordinating companies in Thailand comply with the measures such as travel insurance and must ensure the income after deduction of expenses for Thai workers of at least 30,240 Baht by placing a bank guarantee at the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives. In addition, it has set welfare measures such as the provision of accommodation for no more than six people per room and a bathroom in each room, and that vehicles for traveling to collect fruit should not carry over six people each. 2) Measures to protect workers while working abroad. The Department of Employment has coordinated with the embassy and wild fruit purchasing companies in Finland and coordinating companies in Thailand in providing assistance and care to Thai workers while working in Finland; and 3) Measures after returning to Thailand. There were discussions between the Department of Employment, buyer’s representatives, coordinators, and employee representatives to understand the problems and obstacles that arise by considering guidelines for the next season.
In addition, the Department of Employment has directed the Provincial Employment Office/Bangkok Employment Office Areas 1-10 to survey the living conditions, income, and satisfaction in the process of commuting to work, including taking requests where workers are paid less than the guaranteed income to proceed with a deduction from the collateral. According to data from the Department of Employment that surveyed the satisfaction of the Thai coordinator who deployed 300 Thai workers to collect wild fruit in Finland, each worker had an average income after deductions and expenses of 104,000 Baht per person. The lowest income for workers who went to work for the first time amounted to 44,000 Baht, and the highest income amounted to 280,000 Baht. The Thai workers were satisfied and wished to travel to work the following year.
“The Department of Employment confirms that it has made full efforts in all dimensions to take care of Thai workers who travel to work in other countries to ensure they receive fair wages, rights, and welfare. The efforts follow the Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomkln’s policies. In the case of labour complaints, the Department of Employment will expedite investigations from workers returning today to gather information for help in the next steps,” added Mr. Pairoj.
For more information, please contact the Thai Overseas Employment Administration, call 02-245-0978 and 02-245-9430, contact the Ministry of Labour’s 1506 hotline, press 2 for the Department of Employment, or call the Department of Employment’s 1694 hotline.
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Division of Public Relations
5 October 2022
