[Aizutox]

I'm working in a factory as well but luckily that I don't have to work that hard like other people.

In this factory, there are 2 shifts; 7:00am-7:00pm and 7:00pm-7:00am. They work 4 days, off 2 days. In Ayutthaya, the minimum rate is at 150 Baht a day.

[OGOGOogoloshennya]

In Ayutthaya, the minimum rate is at 150 Baht a day.

According to the list Richard details in post 9 it should be 160 Baht a day not 150 Baht in Ayutthaya.

à´ÇÔ´

[Aizutox]

That's what they are talking about it right now at work. We have 2 plants, Ayutthaya and Pratumtani (Navanakorn), they are trying to move daily workers from Pratumtani to Ayutthaya but they don't want to because less income. It seems 175 Baht in Pratumtani and 150 Baht in Ayutthaya. I don't know if this is true or not but it's just what I heard it today.

[ASSESTYTEAH]

Do you have a strong union to help with problems at work?

[Thifiadardivy]

David_loves_ubonwan hi
i do the qa & qc in two factories just out side bkk 30 klicks. i am in the furniture trade our people do 8hours a day 6 days a week, unless they want to do over time , if they want to at over time rate.

[OGOGOogoloshennya]

I see. ÍغÅÇÃó is working a sewing machine in a clothes factory, she has done this in the past, for Nike in Minburi, where I believe the hours were 8:00am to 6:00pm.

I think she believed this would be similar but she told me today that it's 7:00am to midnight with an hour off to eat betweem 5:00 - 6:00pm. This is 'take it or leave it', not a double shift by choice. This seems very long hours to me...

à´ÇÔ´

[trettegeani]

17 hours for 200 baht, criminal IMHO
She should report the buggers.

[trettegeani]

12 hour shifts are common place in large production facilities.
Most of the guy at my place work 12 hours. BUT like the Labour Law Says 48 maximum the rest is paid OT.
Your wife could go to the local labour department, and win, but the company would probably just close down and move soemwhere else.
I wonder why you let her do this, she won't be earning very much, probably no more than 100 baht a day, maybe 150 for the extra hours.
My wife used to do the same, can't imagine her doing it again. Not when I pull more than a months Thai pay in a day.

[ASSESTYTEAH]

There are different shifts with some factories open 24 hours. Depends a lot on what they are doing. Some people work two shifts. Some people work two jobs or more. I know Gor's mother often did overtime at her factory to pay for her children's' education.

[OGOGOogoloshennya]

Last week my wife went to take a job in a factory. Today was the first chance we have had to speak since she took the job and I left off calling her until when I assumed she would have finished work for the day.

I was surprised that I could hardly hear her above the sound of 1,000 ladies working on sewing machines - it sounded at first like monsoon rains until she explained.

When we talked further and ÍغÅÇÃó told me her working hours I was very surprised (shocked ), I expected long hours but not to the extent she is working - she has been there less than a week and already is thinking maybe it is a bad decision...

So I am just wondering what are the typical factory working hours in Thailand?

à´ÇÔ´

[OGOGOogoloshennya]

Yes, that is illegal but most workers don't do anything as they are scared to lose their jobs. Out of interest, by law, this is the minimum we should be paying our workers. Obviously it is better if we pay them more.



As I understand, these are rates for the normal working day. They should actually get more than this for doing OT.

191 baht for Bangkok , Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathumthani, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon

Interesting that the minimum wage should be 191 baht a day as I worked out she in on 12 baht an hour for a 16 (working) hour day which equates to 192 baht. But ÍغÅÇÃó doesn't see it as 192 baht a day but about 5,000 baht a month which sounds like a big number to her.

à´ÇÔ´

[trettegeani]

My wife is worth more to me at home thn of making a few lousy baht per day.
I have a neighbour pays his house keeper 6000 a month for an average of 18 hours a day 7 days a week.
I quizzed him about this and his glib reply was "they love being taken advantage of" his house keeper does not enjoy this, but does have a lot of affection for their daughter, as they are too busy running a beer bar each day.
It makes me sick really, the same with the poor sods who chooose to immigrate to Australia on the new 457 Visa. I met two guys from PNg, being exploited to the point that there emplyer was actully telling them how to live - invading there private accommodation. Promises of a great wage, with hhe fine print stating that an average of 80 hours needed to be worked to get this great wage.
Employers - no matter their ilk, always exploit the labour, and the richer they are the worse they get.
One exception that I know of was Kerry Packer, he always paid his workers very well, particularly if made redundant.

[ASSESTYTEAH]

That should be overtime. The following is an extract from the Labour Protection Act:

The maximum number of hours for non-hazardous work is eight hours a day or 48 hours a week in total. In some types of work as stipulated by law, the employer and the employee may agree to arrange the period of working hours, but it still must not exceed 48 hours a week. Hazardous work may not exceed seven hours a day, or 42 hours per week. Employees are entitled to no fewer than 13 national holidays a year, and a minimum of six days of annual vacation after working consecutively for one full year. Employees have the choice of whether they wish to work overtime or on holidays. A female employee is entitled to maternity leave for a period of 90 days including holidays, but paid leave shall not exceed 45 days.

All employees are entitled to a daily rest period of at least one hour after working five consecutive hours. The employer and the employee may arrange the daily rest period to be shorter than one hour at each time, but it must not be less than one hour a day in total. A weekly holiday of at least one day a week at intervals of a six-day period must be arranged by the employer.

For work performed in excess of the maximum number or working hours fixed either by law or by specific agreement (if the latter is lower), employees must be paid overtime compensation. The rates for overtime vary and range from 1-1/2 times to three times the normal hourly wage rate for the actual overtime worked. The maximum number of overtime working hours is limited to not more than 36 hours a week.

[ASSESTYTEAH]

Yes, that is illegal but most workers don't do anything as they are scared to lose their jobs. Out of interest, by law, this is the minimum we should be paying our workers. Obviously it is better if we pay them more.

These regulations apply to all businesses and rates depend largely on the location of the workplace. The minimum wage per day effective January 1, 2007 are:

191 baht for Bangkok , Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathumthani, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon
186 baht for Phuket
172 baht for Chonburi
168 baht for Saraburi
162 baht for Nakhon Ratchasima
161 baht for Rayong
160 baht for Chachoengsao, Ayutthaya and Ranong
159 baht for Chiang Mai and Phang Nga
156 baht for Krabi and Petchaburi
155 baht for Kanchanaburi Chanthaburi and Lopburi
154 baht for Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram and Srakeaw
152 baht for Trang, Prachuapkirikan, Prachinburi, Songkhla, Singburi and Ang Thong
150 baht for Loei and Udon Thani
149 baht for Chumphon, Trat, Lampang, Lamphum, Sukothai and Suphanburi
148 baht for Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Phanom, Nakorn Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Buriram, Pattani, Yala, Satun and Nong Khai
147 baht for Kamphaengphet, Tak, Nakorn Na Yok, Nakorn Sawan, Phattalung, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Surat Thani and Uttaradit
146 baht for Chainat, Chaiyaphum, Chiang Rai, Mahasarakram, Mukdahan, Yasothon, Roi Et, Sri Sa Ket, Sakhon Nakhon, Nong Bua Lamphu and U Thaithani
145 baht for Phichit, Mae Hong Son, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani and Amnat Charoen
144 baht for Payao and Phrae
143 baht for Nan As I understand, these are rates for the normal working day. They should actually get more than this for doing OT.

[largonioulurI]

My friend Pla works in a clothing factory in Samut Prakan, and she works 8 hours a day, but she usually gets in an extra 3 or 4 hours Overtime a day. I remember her Pay was OK compared with other factory workers I had herd of, due to the O.T. I must admit it is a real drudgery doing that kind of work, and I have to admire them for doing it.

[largonioulurI]

I wonder why you let her do this, she won't be earning very much,

I would be very proud of my wife working hard for what ever small amount. It shows she has a lot of pride in helping contribute to the family finances.

[OGOGOogoloshennya]

I wonder why you let her do this, she won't be earning very much, probably no more than 100 baht a day, maybe 150 for the extra hours.
My wife used to do the same, can't imagine her doing it again. Not when I pull more than a months Thai pay in a day.

It's her choice and I can't stop her when I'm 6,000 miles away. The pay is more like 200 Baht a day...

She has been there less than a week and assures me she will leave and go home if she doesn't like it after a month.

David

[OGOGOogoloshennya]

Thanks Richard, that is very interesting. So even with overtime she shouldn't be working more than 84 hours a week but she is having to do 96 hours (when you take out the daily 1 hour rest) 'take it or leave it'. I don't blame her if she only lasts one month (as we spoke about today)...

Last year she worked as a hotel maid and had to work 11 hours a day before it became classed as overtime ( sometimes she had to do guests laundry after her 6pm 'finishing' time). Also last year as a maid she wasn't getting the one day a week holiday either; she was allowed only alternate Wednesdays off...

à´ÇÔ´