JELI’s Newsletter August 2023 – Just Economy and Labor Institute

Following the election in May, the Pheu Thai Party eventually managed to take the lead in forming the government, even though it did not receive the highest number of votes from the public. In this government, led by Mr. Srettha Thavisin as the 30th Prime Minister of Thailand, he represents the Pheu Thai Party.

In terms of labor rights policies that the Pheu Thai Party has advocated for, many of them remain uncertain in terms of implementation. Therefore, it is essential for the general public to continue monitoring the government and its agendas – to ensure that the party follows through on the promises made to the public.

To provide an update on the labor rights situation and social movements as of August, three news articles serve as key highlights.

The past July ended with another case of rider’s accident in Nonthaburi Province, as his motorcycle collided with an SUV while making a u-turn, resulting in a fatality – it is not yet known whether the rider’s family has received any compensation or insurance aid
Gulf, the energy conglomerate, has withdrawn their lawsuits against Sarinee Achavanuntakul, a renowned academic and economist, in both civil and criminal cases, as both parties have agreed to enter into a settlement agreement
The Bangkok South Criminal Court acquitted three women human rights defenders of criminal defamation

As for our advocacy initiative, JELI, along with rider group representatives as well as families of riders who lost their lives to accident while on delivery duty, submitted a petition to the representative of the Ministry of Labor on 30 of Aug – to call for the establishment of the compensation and relief fund, aimed at helping to alleviate cases of income loss and compensating for death and disability caused by road accident. The petition submission event has received significant attention from the media, with an active support from the Deputy Spokesperson of the Thai Sang Thai Political Party – being a key observer.

As part of the seminar that JELI’s representative participated in, titled “Seminar and Knowledge Exchange Forum: Current Issues, Knowledge Gap, and Relevance Policies to Safeguard the Health and Well-Being of Informal Workers: Key Focus – Public Service Providers in Bangkok”, participants were encouraged to exchange knowledge and learn about the health and well-being issues faced by informal workers. The aim was to find appropriate solutions that would improve their quality of life.

For media and publications, Dr. Kriangsak Teerakowitkajorn, JELI’s Managing Director, has authored 2 academic articles in English during the past month. The first one titled “Centering Alternative Forms of Labor Organizations” published online on Asian Labour Review, while the second titled “Thailand’s Conservative Old Guard Has Snuffed Out the Popular Demand for Change” published online on Jacobin.

Important News

The past July ended with another case of rider’s accident in Nonthaburi Province, as his motorcycle collided with an SUV while making a u-turn, resulting in a fatality – it is not yet known whether the rider’s family has received any compensation or insurance aid

On July 28, 2023, at 22:00, officers from the Bang Bua Thong Police Station received a report of a collision between a motorcycle and an SUV, resulting in one fatality. The incident occurred at a U-turn point on Bang Kruay – Sai Noi Road, in the Bang Bua Thong district, Nonthaburi province, Thailand. Subsequently, it was revealed that the deceased individual was Mr. Sutthirat Sukcharoen, a 31 years old delivery rider.

From the investigation, it was determined that the deceased individual was riding the motorcycle straight ahead while the SUV was in the process of making a U-turn at the U-turn point. The motorcycle collided forcefully with the front of the SUV, causing the body of the deceased to be thrown off the motorcycle and onto the road surface, leading to a loss of consciousness and eventual fatality.

However, at this time, JELI does not have additional information regarding whether the rider’s family has received appropriate compensation or insurance aid in this case. If there are any updates on the incident, JELI will continue to monitor the news and report further.

News Source: Newsnoon

Gulf, the energy conglomerate, has withdrawn their lawsuits against Sarinee Achavanuntakul, a renowned academic and economist, in both civil and criminal cases, as both parties have agreed to enter into a settlement agreement

Following the case where the energy conglomerate “Gulf Energy” filed lawsuits against renowned academic and economist Sarinee Achavanuntakul, both in civil litigation, seeking damages in the amount of 100,000,000 Baht, and in a criminal defamation case, stemming from criticism that Gulf Energy engaged in power industry monopolization, on August 22, 2023, Sarinee made a brief announcement through her personal Facebook page, stating that after discussions and mutual understanding, both parties had agreed to enter into a settlement agreement.

Consequently, the opposing party withdrew their lawsuits in both cases. Sarinee confirmed that the outcome of the cases would not impact her research and writing work, particularly in the areas of energy ethics and the transition to fair energy. However, due to the constraints of the settlement agreement, she couldn’t provide any further details beyond this.

The Bangkok South Criminal Court acquitted three women human rights defenders of criminal defamation

On August 29, 2023, the Bangkok South Criminal Court acquitted three women human rights defenders – Angkhana Neelapaijit, Puttanee Kangkun, and Thanaporn Saleephol – of criminal defamation charges brought by the controversial Thai poultry company Thammakaset Company Limited.

“I welcome today’s ruling upholding our rights. But regardless of the result, the last four years have been painful for each of us. Thammakaset’s harassment consumed our time, resources, and spirits,” said Puttanee Kangkun, Director at The Fort Foundation and former Senior Human Rights Specialist at Fortify Rights.

“Thai authorities should prevent businesses like Thammakaset from engaging in judicial harassment to attempt to silence activists who speak against injustice.”

News Source: The Fort Foundation

Events and Advocacy Campaigns

JELI, along with rider group representatives as well as families of riders who lost their lives to accident while on delivery duty, submitted a petition to the representative of the Ministry of Labor to call for the establishment of the compensation and relief fund, aimed at helping to alleviate cases of income loss and compensating for death and disability caused by road accident

On August 30, 2023, JELI, along with representatives of the rider community and the families of riders who lost their lives in work-related accidents, submitted a letter to the Ministry of Labor. They demanded the establishment of a “Compensation and Relief Fund” for riders who experience accidents during work, resulting in income loss, disability, or fatality. Mr. Kasemsan Kruacharoen, the Director of the Labor Protection of Informal Workers Subdivision, received the letter on behalf of the ministry.

On the day of submitting the letter, in addition to a large number of media personnel gathering to report the event, there was also a representative from the Thai Sang Thai Political Party, Mr. Vorawut Tovirat – the Deputy Spokesperson, who came to observe.

Following a private meeting and discussion with representatives of the Ministry of Labor, the Director of the Labor Protection of Informal Workers Subdivision informed reporters that the Department of Welfare and Labor Protection is currently working on a draft of the Labor Protection for Informal Workers Act, which aims to safeguard informal workers, including rider groups. The progress has reached more than halfway, and preliminary answers will be provided to the rider groups within 7 days.

The activity of submitting the petition on August 30th, which was part of JELI’s campaign plan under the GLP-Power project, involved not only presenting the petition to the Ministry of Labor’s representative but also included the complimentary of flags and stickers as campaign materials. Both the flags and stickers feature QR codes that the general public can scan to access information regarding the multifaceted challenges faced by riders.

Prior to the petition submission event, JELI had undertaken advance actions by issuing a statement (in Thai) to highlight the issues concerning the lack of compensation and relief funds for riders, as well as the difficulties in accessing accident insurance protection. Simultaneously, JELI expanded its advocacy efforts to raise awareness on this matter by initiating a campaign on Change.org, encouraging the public to participate in advocating for the rights of riders.

News/Media Outlets Advocating for Our Campaign

Seminars and Conferences

Seminar and Knowledge Exchange Forum: Current Issues, Knowledge Gap, and Relevance Policies to Safeguard the Health and Well-Being of Informal Workers: Key Focus – Public Service Providers in Bangkok

On August 8, 2023, the JELI representative participated in the “Seminar and Knowledge Exchange Forum: Current Issues, Knowledge Gap, and Relevance Policies to Safeguard the Health and Well-Beings of Informal Workers: Key Focus – Public Service Providers in Bangkok”. This event was set as a platform for academics and experts in labor rights, as well as experts in healthcare and well-being, to exchange knowledge and learn about the precarious working conditions faced by informal workers. The event also included representatives from various government agencies with expertise in policies related to the protection of rights and well-being of this particular group of workers.

The conference organizers for this event were the National Health Commission Office and the International Health Policy Program (IHPP). They focused on discussions related to public service providers, including taxi drivers, three-wheeled motorcycle taxi drivers, motorcycle taxi drivers, and gig economy workers like delivery riders. The discussions encompassed policy-related issues and highlighted the health problems faced by workers under informal employment, including unsafe working conditions and a lack of social security coverage. The objective was to find solutions to address these situations.

The summary of the conference is that, in the case of gig economy workers – particularly delivery riders, they are considered to be employees of the platform companies, given the strict regulations and certain working standards imposed on riders to follow. However, these companies often do not take responsibility for the rights and welfare of their workers. Such a condition puts riders at risk by subjecting them to dangerous working conditions without providing any adequate protection nor securities. Delivery riders face risks related to illness and accidents while working, making their profession a vulnerable one. It was decided at the seminar to pass a resolution urging the Ministry of Labor to consider legal protection measures for gig economy workers, including social security and compensation funds, in order to ensure the protection of their rights and welfare in practice.

Media and Publications

Centering Alternative Forms of Labor Organizations – Dr. KRIANGSAK TEERAKOWITKAJORN

Dr.Kriangsak Teerakowitkajorn, JELI’s Managing Director, in collaboration with the Asian Labour Review, has published an article “Centering Alternative Forms of Labor Organizations”

JELI invites our readers to explore the resilience of migrant and gig workers worldwide as they navigate the challenges of informal labor in their attempts to organize collective movement.

This article challenges the dominance of traditional trade unions, highlighting the shared struggles and innovative organizing approaches of these workers. From Southeast Asia to global contexts, learn about alternative forms of collective organization that empower marginalized workers and invigorate labor movements.

Discover how participatory research can pave the way for a more equitable future of work. Join the conversation and support the advancement of workers’ rights in Southeast Asia!

Thailand’s Conservative Old Guard Has Snuffed Out the Popular Demand for Change – Dr. KRIANGSAK TEERAKOWITKAJORN

Dr. KRIANGSAK TEERAKOWITKAJORN, JELI’s Managing Director, in collaboration with the Jacobin magazine, has published an article “Thailand’s Conservative Old Guard Has Snuffed Out the Popular Demand for Change”

In this article, Dr. Kriangsak highlights the progressive Move Forward Party’s (MFP) electoral success in Thailand’s recent general election but notes that conservative forces blocked their attempts to form a government.

The MFP’s platform focused on reforms and curbing the monarchy’s influence, resonating with various segments of the population. However, he suggests that relying solely on parliamentary politics may not bring about transformative change and emphasizes the need for grassroots organizing within the progressive movement to challenge entrenched elites.

Lastly, as an expert on labor rights, he also suggests that the MFP should involve leaders from working-class communities for lasting social change.

Read the full article at: https://jacobin.com/2023/08/thailand-military-government-democracy-move-forward-party