Some factories are closing because of the coronavirus… but migrants are not receiving severance pay. (Reported second-hand)

Out of 16 factories surveyed by MAP, none are closed, but have reduced work conditions or stopped and paying 75% (under Sec 75). Another 50-60 medium sized factories are reportedly still running “normally.”

Rosso factory released 20 people at the end of March.

Top Form and Cortinha Eagle – providing temperature checks at the door.

Hand Gel with guard – distributed 3x a day…

North Star factory – no gel provided, but workers encouraged to wash hands, and each worker given one cloth mask.

Other factories allowed to make own cloth mask and sell (10-15 Baht) using materials in factory.

Courtinha eagle – a worker received a relative from BKK, and they were both quarantined.

Chiang Mai

Construction

In Pa Daet, construction workers are working normally. However, the supply stores have closed. So, if employer runs out of supplies, will have to stop work. Migrants are wearing cloth masks as they are unable to buy disposable paper masks. The workers feel safe as they don’t go anywhere except to the work site, which is nearby, and back to the camp. However, transportation back and forth requires them to sit close together.

Sangkampaeng area, employers said they will stop work at the end of March. But no indication when will restart work. Outsiders not allowed into the camp, and workers not allowed to leave, except to buy food nearby. Now it is difficult to even find food though, as most shops have closed.

Workers’ Concerns

No work means no pay. How will they survive? They have daily expenses. Many in construction are with their families, their children. Some camps make workers rent rooms, others can stay for free but have to share water and electricity costs. Without work and no money, workers are uncertain how they will survive in construction camps unable to pay expenses.

They see announcements by the Thai government about help for Thai workers, but what about migrants? What if they don’t have Social Security? Who is going to help migrants? Employer has no work for migrants to do… How will they survive if this lasts a long time?

Hotel cleaners

Most cleaners at hotels and small hotels (hostels) were able to work until end of March. But as of April, without any customers, most all have stopped work. Some had Social Security and will try to receive unemployment benefits.

Cleaners for dormitories are still working every day, but lack protection. Some employers have hired cleaners for small hotels to clean their personal homes. So, this group still has some employment. When they finish work, they go straight to their rooms.

Domestic workers who work and stay in the employer’s house are still working as usual. The employer has told them not to go outside though.

Cleaners for stores / shops are out of work because stores are closed as of March 30.

Orchid Farm, Mae Rim

Regular working conditions, except no one is allowed to enter from outside or leave. If they have to go outside for any reason, need to notify the company. There will be a three day holiday for the New Year as every year.

Factory in Sangkhampaeng

This particular factory (molding) is still functioning as normal. Workers are not affected. In fact, they have a lot of orders. However, those who live in Sangkhampaeng village are not allowed to receive any relatives from other provinces, or else have to notify the headman immediately.

Social Security

Practically no construction workers have social security even when they were eligible. At the time, their rationale was that it cost too much, they didn’t work every day, so they didn’t make enough and felt they couldn’t afford the deduction. The registration was also very expensive this year.