BANGKOK, March 24 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A Thai lingerie manufacturer has been ordered by authorities to compensate more than 1,200 workers who were dismissed without severance pay and wages owed to them when the factory shut down.
Brilliant Alliance Thai Global (BAT) closed its factory in Samut Prakan province on March 10 citing financial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and workers and unions said they were given no warning or information about their wages or severance.
The company was this week told to pay 242.22 million baht ($7.81 million) to about 1,237 workers within 30 days or face a criminal lawsuit, according to Phongthep Petchsom, head of the Labour Protection and Welfare Office in Samut Prakan.
Under Thai labour law, companies that cease operations are required to give one month’s notice and settle their financial commitments to workers, including wages, bonuses and severance.
