Govt asked to investigate worker oppression
Govt asked to investigate worker oppression
The Lao Federation of Trade Unions (LFTU) has called on the government to carry out regular inspections in factories and companies to ensure workers are not taken advantage of by their employers.
A senior LFTU official, Mr Samanxay Khanthanuxay, told Vientiane Times on Thursday that unless regular inspections take place, worker oppression will become harsher.
“Currently, the inspection system is weak. Inspections only occur when workers tell authorities they have been taken advantage of in some way,” Mr Samanxay said.
“Our recommendation to the government is that it would be good if we can carry out regular inspections to prevent employers depriving workers of their rights.”
Vice President of the LFTU Mr Simoun Ounlasy said recently that Lao workers are treated unfairly in various ways.
He said some companies didn't allow their workers to have the number of holidays spelled out in the Labour Law.
“Our workers are being forced to work longer hours than the time stipulated by law. Some employees do not receive the pay they anticipated in line with the amount of work they do,” Mr Simoun said.
“Some employers did not pay their workers the increased minimum wage after the government issued a decree to raise the minimum wage.”
A few years ago the government increased the minimum wage to about 900,000 kip a month. This amount excluded allowances paid to workers, such as money for lunch, overtime and so on.
But many companies ignored the ruling, depriving workers of the money they are entitled to by law.
Trade unions have found that many companies and factories, especially in the provinces, have not paid the increased wage, reflecting the weakness of law enforcement.
The LFTU is a mass organisation that protects the legitimate rights and benefits of workers as well as training workers and contributing to social development.
But only 30 percent of the more than 124,870 private businesses and enterprises in Laos have set up a trade union.
Many employers are reluctant to cooperate with trade unions as they fear that if their employees join a trade union it will interfere with their business operations and reduce their profits.
Mr Samanxay said “What employers are concerned about is that when a trade union is established in their factory, their employees may ask for higher wages and welfare benefits. If the employers fail to meet their demands, they may protest or refuse to come to work. But I don't think that would actually happen in Laos.”
At present Laos has over 551,200 workers, most of whom work for various businesses. Trade unions have mostly been established in Party and government units at the central and local levels. There are over 7,200 trade union branches at the grassroots level.
