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Published on September 14, 2007

By law, employers can order their employees not to come to work under certain circumstances as long as the workers receive half of their wages for their non-working period.

However, about 20 workers from Charoen Sawas Yaitiamyued Co in Samut Sakhon yesterday complained to the Labour Ministry that the company might be shutting down without telling its workers the truth.

Recently, the company ordered its workers to alternate four working days with 10 days at home until the end of the year, citing that the company was running short of raw materials.

Labour Protection and Welfare Department deputy director-general Anont Indrasuksri yesterday ordered officials to investigate the company's order.

"We will also invite the employer for a talk to create better understanding of the situation," Anont said.

 Bandhit Panvises, a key official from the Friends of Women Foundation, said workers could hardly survive on half their wages and this could allow the employers to get rid of workers without offering severance pay.

He said 43 enterprises had gone out of business between January 1 and September 6, adversely affecting more than 13,000 workers, while about 25 other enterprises have laid off some workers.

"Also, there are risks of employment termination at 64 other enterprises," Bandhit said.

The Nation