Job agencies agree to partial refunds

Four job agencies that sent Thai workers to Sweden to pick wild berries have agreed to give partial refunds, Labour Minister Paitoon Kaewthong says.

But the amounts of money the berry pickers will receive will vary depending on the companies with which they signed their contracts.

The settlement was brokered by Mr Paitoon who called a meeting with representatives from the four job agencies - Siam Royal Services Co, Sunshine Co, Thai Blue Berry Service Co and TS Law and Business Co.

On average, those who earned less than 10,000 baht from berry picking will receive a 25% refund of 75,000 baht.

Mr Paitoon said the payment is to alleviate the hardship of almost 300 workers who recently returned home from Sweden broke and disappointed.

They had borrowed between 80,000-150,000 baht each to travel to Sweden but poor berry yields led them to make only small amounts of money.

He said the Labour Ministry will discuss the matter with the Sweden Forest Berries Association and try to guarantee minimum earnings for the workers next year.

Chaiyuth Kijsawat, managing director of Siam Royal Services, said the company can only give a 20,000 baht refund to each of the workers.

He said the firm's financial status is not so good either but it is willing settle the dispute so it will not affect the company's quota to send workers next year.

Hatsaya Kennok, a berry picker, yesterday called on labour authorities to step in to ensure fair employment.

She said it is time the government put in place a management scheme for those who seek to pick wild berries in Sweden.

Meanwhile, Sampan Sakuldee, another worker from Nakhon Ratchasima, said she and her husband took out 200,000 baht in loans to be berry pickers and are likely to lose their last land plot which was placed as collateral.

She said that the refund offered by the job agency is not enough to pay the interest on her loans.

She said that there are some 20 other couples who suffered the same fate and many of them feel their families are falling apart due to financial stress.