Safe-T-Cut workers join plant closure protest

More than 400 Safe-T-Cut Manufacturing workers demonstrated yesterday outside the Labour Protection and Welfare Department in Samut Prakan after their factories were closed down and they were fired without final pay or benefits.

The protesters came from plants in Chai Nat and Samut Prakan.

They said they were abruptly sacked without receiving separation compensation and benefits from the company owners.

They said the owners dared them to sue if they wanted the benefits.

The protesters blocked Thepharak Road but later allowed the road to reopen to traffic in response to a police request.

Manus Chunchuen, Safe-T-Cut's labour union chairman, said workers believe they are victims of an internal conflict between company founder Chawan Sotethiwanwong, who runs the Samut Prakan plant, and his son Nattapong, who operates the Chai Nat plant.

About 30 families have been told to move out of the company's employee housing, which upset the workers and prompted the protest.

The workers tried to get Chawan to negotiate with them but failed.

All 400 angry union members have joined with workers from Kawasaki to claim their rights at the department.