Italian-Thai Tavoy strike

Readers may recall that PPT posted on the huge Italian-Thai conglomerate’s 60-year port development and operate deal for Tavoy/Dawei that was inked during a visit to Burma by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in October 2010 (see here also). In January 2011 we also posted regarding the potential impact of the deal. We had another post on royal companies and here.

It is reported in The Irrawaddy that construction is now underway, and that the first strike by Burmese workers is already recorded. It says that some “70 Burmese laborers working on the construction of the Tavoy (Dawei) deep-sea port project went on strike in early February to protest low wages and long working hours, according to local workers living in Nebule, a village track located within the project area.”

It seems that standard labor relations for Thai companies are in place: “We have to work 10 hours per day, but get paid only 3,500 kyat (US $4.11)…. We also have to work on public holidays without overtime payment and receive payments only after the 10th day of each month.” The worker also noted “there is different treatment of Thai and Burmese workers…”.

In Burma, worker protests are pretty rare. The Burmese Ministry of Labor and the Tavoy Peace and Development Council are mediating. It seems that many of the workers “have worked in Thailand before and knew the payment and work environment in Thailand.” Both Burmese workers and engineers are said to be involved, also protesting poor working and living conditions.