The Prime Minister showed concern about the fire at a commercial building in the Sampeng area on Ratchawong Road. The Ministry of Labour was instructed to expedite inspections to help employees and employers urgently. The Labour Minister instructed the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, together with agencies under the Ministry of Labour, to visit the area to investigate the facts and assist with legal protection and rights.
Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin spoke about the fire in a commercial building in the Sampeng area, on Kikuya Intersection, Ratchawong Road, Chakrawat Subdistrict, Samphanthawong District, Bangkok. As soon as they heard the news, the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha, and Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who oversees the Ministry of Labour, expressed their care and concern about the incident that happened, impacting the lives and property of employees, employers, and business establishments. He instructed the Ministry of Labour to urgently speed up assistance to the employees and employers. The Department of Labour Protection and Welfare was instructed to send security inspectors to check the facts. The preliminary investigation found that a fire broke out in about nine commercial buildings, believed to be caused by an explosion of a transformer. The building burned down was a shop selling plastic equipment/bags and children’s toys. Preliminary reports found two deaths resulting from the fire, including one Cambodian male and one Thai woman. Additionally, nine people were injured from smoke suffocation. In this regard, the relevant departments have been coordinated to assist the employees, employers, and business establishments affected by the fire. The Department of Labour Protection and Welfare assigned the Bangkok Labour Protection and Welfare Office Area 8 and the Work Safety Center Area 11 (Taling Chan) to inspect the accident site and operate following their authority. They have also coordinated with agencies under the Ministry of Labour to assist employees and employers affected by the fire. They will invite employers and related persons to come and investigate further and proceed following their powers and duties.
Mr. Suchart spoke about the report from the Bangkok Social Security Office Area 1. From examining the rights to medical treatment for seven patients suffering from the suffocation of smoke at Hua Chiew Hospital, four of the injured employees were entitled to group accident insurance, namely Mr. Sirasit Silarak and Mr. Somchai Onpirom, Mr. Jiraporn Janyanupar, and Mr. Pornchai Namkratok. Some employees exercised their social security rights, namely Mr. Sarayapong Kittichokwatana, and two employees are under examination, Mr. Kitichart Karunrattanakul, 71, and Mrs. Tingim Sae-heng, 99. The injured people admitted to the Central Hospital are pending notification from the hospital. Of the two employees who died, the first was Ms. Jiraporn Soummart, an employee of Ratchawong Canvas. Benefits that the family will receive include funeral expenses of 50,000 Baht, compensation for lack of income of 1,260,000 Baht, and an old-age pension in the event of death of 134,653 Baht, plus interest, totaling 1,444,653 Baht. The second person, Mr. Pheak Doeum, an employee of Cambodian nationality of Ratchawong Canvas, was working legally. Benefits that the family will receive include funeral expenses of 50,000 Baht, compensation for lack of income of 722,904 Baht, and an old-age pension in the event of death of 17,512 Baht, plus interest, totaling 790,416 Baht. The Social Security Office will coordinate to help pay the compensation to the families as soon as possible.
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Division of Public Relations
27 June 2022
