Drainage workers rally over changes
Employees of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Department of Drainage and Sewerage (DDS) rallied in the Giant Swing area outside City Hall yesterday, complaining that 424 employees' job contracts had not been renewed at the beginning of the month.
Workers on yearly contracts with the canal system section threatening to file a lawsuit with the Administrative Court, and called for contracts to be renewed for another year. They said their contracts were changed two months ago to six-monthly arrangements.
Demonstrators said the sudden change affected their incomes – especially elderly employees with low education. If they didn’t get justice, they would take complaints to the Justice Ministry and court. The protest dissolved at around 3pm after negotiations.
DDS executive Jirasak Jiwarak said the contract problems were due to a system change and plan to tackle the budget shortage by outsourcing to the private sector. After reviewing contracts in 15 days, they would pay compensation to the employees.
