Laid off workers in Thailand set up their own factory to continue working
By Jon Fernquest
About
200 former workers who were laid off during the global
economic downturn
have been camped out at the Labour Ministry since
their request for extra severance
pay was denied last year.Some of these workers even set up their own factory at the ministry to continue producing even though they no longer had a job (See photo montage on right and read article).
The sort of worker self-management and worker cooperative seen in this article actually has a long history (See Wikipedia).
Today's article begins after the vocabulary:
laid-off - when
workers lose their job because the business is not making money during
bad economic times
global - throughout the world ทั่วโลก
economic downturn, recession, slump - a period of time when the economy is in bad condition and income and wealth declines
camped out - staying at and living at a place without leaving (because it is necessary for some reason such as a protest or there is a long line to buy tickets for some event, for example)
severance - the act of ending a worker's employment (workers lose their job)
severance pay - money paid to workers when they lose their job
denied, request denied - told they can't do or have something
a photo montage - a photo or picture made by combining many separate photos (See photo on right)
worker self-management - when the workers are involved in and participate in the management of a company or organisation (See Wikipedia)
worker cooperative - a company owned and managed by workers (See Wikipedia)
global - throughout the world ทั่วโลก
economic downturn, recession, slump - a period of time when the economy is in bad condition and income and wealth declines
camped out - staying at and living at a place without leaving (because it is necessary for some reason such as a protest or there is a long line to buy tickets for some event, for example)
severance - the act of ending a worker's employment (workers lose their job)
severance pay - money paid to workers when they lose their job
denied, request denied - told they can't do or have something
a photo montage - a photo or picture made by combining many separate photos (See photo on right)
worker self-management - when the workers are involved in and participate in the management of a company or organisation (See Wikipedia)
worker cooperative - a company owned and managed by workers (See Wikipedia)
Angry Underpants
Laid-off garment workers take on former boss at own game and strike blow for labour rights20/02/2010
Kultida Samabuddhi
Factory workers made redundant from swimwear and undergarment giant Triumph International are taking on their former employer at his own game.
The workers run a small factory making underwear, which started as a protest gesture but is now an earner in its own right.
underpants - the
pants that people wear under their pants
undergarments - the pants and shirts that people wear under their cloths (See Wikipedia)
laid-off - when workers lose their job because the business is not making money during bad economic times
garment - clothes
take on - compete with, fight with
strike a blow - hit
strike blow for - do something to protect or defend someone (like hit someone in a fight)
labour rights - the things that workers are guaranteed to get by the law, by the constitution or international human rights agreements
garment - clothes
strike - a sudden attack การโจมตี
blow - an event that damages your chances of success สิ่งที่ทำให้เกิดความเสียหาย
rights - what the law allows you to have and do สิทธิ์ (See Wikipedia)
redundant - something not needed (because you already have it or something like it)
employer - a person, company, or organisation that pays someone to work for them as a member of their staff นายจ้าง
protest - a strong complaint or disagreement ประท้วง
gesture - something that you do or say to show a particular feeling or intention ท่าที ท่าทาง ลักษณะท่าทาง
undergarments - the pants and shirts that people wear under their cloths (See Wikipedia)
laid-off - when workers lose their job because the business is not making money during bad economic times
garment - clothes
take on - compete with, fight with
strike a blow - hit
strike blow for - do something to protect or defend someone (like hit someone in a fight)
labour rights - the things that workers are guaranteed to get by the law, by the constitution or international human rights agreements
garment - clothes
strike - a sudden attack การโจมตี
blow - an event that damages your chances of success สิ่งที่ทำให้เกิดความเสียหาย
rights - what the law allows you to have and do สิทธิ์ (See Wikipedia)
redundant - something not needed (because you already have it or something like it)
employer - a person, company, or organisation that pays someone to work for them as a member of their staff นายจ้าง
protest - a strong complaint or disagreement ประท้วง
gesture - something that you do or say to show a particular feeling or intention ท่าที ท่าทาง ลักษณะท่าทาง
They
call their brand Try Arm, a name inspired by a
drawing given to the workers by a Chulalongkorn student who sympathised
with their plight.
She drew women workers, their arms raised, in a gesture symbolising their labour struggle, said Jitra Kotchadej, union adviser to the workers.
brand
- a type of product made by a particular company ตรา, ยี่ห้อ
plight - in a sad and difficult situation full of problems สภาพเลวร้าย
gesture - a motion made with the body
symbolising - having a deeper meaning than what is just seen (physically on the surface)
struggle - a difficult fight or an attempt to defeat someone การต่อสู้เพื่อความอยู่รอด
union, labour union - an organisation that helps workers get better pay and benefits such as health insurance (See Wikipedia)
adviser - an expert who tells other people what they should do (based on his experience and knowledge)
plight - in a sad and difficult situation full of problems สภาพเลวร้าย
gesture - a motion made with the body
symbolising - having a deeper meaning than what is just seen (physically on the surface)
struggle - a difficult fight or an attempt to defeat someone การต่อสู้เพื่อความอยู่รอด
union, labour union - an organisation that helps workers get better pay and benefits such as health insurance (See Wikipedia)
adviser - an expert who tells other people what they should do (based on his experience and knowledge)
When they lost their jobs last year, some of the workers had worked for Triumph for more than 30 years. They say they are still waiting for a decent explanation from the company about why they were laid off.
The workers created the brand last October, two months after they were made redundant by Body Fashion Thailand (BFT), Triumph's manufacturing arm.
decent
- has acceptable standard or quality
explanation - the reasons given why something happened
made redundant - laid off , workers lose jobs
arm - a part of an organisation that deals with a particular subject or activity หน่วยงาน
explanation - the reasons given why something happened
made redundant - laid off , workers lose jobs
arm - a part of an organisation that deals with a particular subject or activity หน่วยงาน
The firm laid off 1,959 workers at its factory in Samut Prakan's Bang Phli district in August, citing a "global restructuring programme to deal with the difficult economic conditions.
The redundant workers, mainly women, said the firm failed to tell them their jobs were at risk.
firm
- a business or company บริษัม
citing - mentioning as a reason ให้ อ้างอิงเหตุผล
global - throughout the world ทั่วโลก
restructuring - changing the way a company operates when it is losing money and reassigning people to different work
redundant workers - workers who have been laid off when business is bad
risk - the possibility that something dangerous or unpleasant might happen ความเสี่ยง
jobs at risk - workers may lose jobs
citing - mentioning as a reason ให้ อ้างอิงเหตุผล
global - throughout the world ทั่วโลก
restructuring - changing the way a company operates when it is losing money and reassigning people to different work
redundant workers - workers who have been laid off when business is bad
risk - the possibility that something dangerous or unpleasant might happen ความเสี่ยง
jobs at risk - workers may lose jobs
It also refused to pay severance compensation as required by labour laws - allegations denied by the BFT.
The labour union lodged complaints with the company and protested at the Swiss embassy, asking it to look into the affair .
severance
- the act of ending a worker's employment
compensation - money paid for some loss, paid because something bad has happened to them เงินชดเชย
allegations - accusations, statements that someone had done something wrong or illegal even though this has not been proved ข้อกล่าวหา
denied - said it was not true
complaints - when people say there is something wrong and they want it changed
embassy - a group of officials who represent their government in a foreign country สถานทูต
affair - an event เรื่องราว
compensation - money paid for some loss, paid because something bad has happened to them เงินชดเชย
allegations - accusations, statements that someone had done something wrong or illegal even though this has not been proved ข้อกล่าวหา
denied - said it was not true
complaints - when people say there is something wrong and they want it changed
embassy - a group of officials who represent their government in a foreign country สถานทูต
affair - an event เรื่องราว
The lingerie firm is based in Switzerland.
After their petitions fell on deaf ears, 500 angry workers broke into the Labour Ministry's compound on Oct 13 and set up camp there. Their protest persists to this day.
lingerie - fashionable underwear
for wear (See Wikipedia)
petitions - an official request
petitions fell on deaf ears - government officials did not listen to their official request
broke into - entered forcably without permission
compound - an area enclosed by a fence or wall in which people work or live บริเวณ
petitions - an official request
petitions fell on deaf ears - government officials did not listen to their official request
broke into - entered forcably without permission
compound - an area enclosed by a fence or wall in which people work or live บริเวณ
The workers turned the ground floor of the Labour Protection and Welfare Department building into a makeshift lingerie factory. They make underwear under the "Try Arm" brand.
The brand name was inspired by the protest, as was the underwear venture itself
makeshift
- temporary, made from whatever materials are available (See glossary)
ที่ใช้ชั่วคราว
inspired by - was given the idea by
venture - a new activity, usually in business, which involves risk or uncertainty ธุริกิจเสี่ยงแต่สามารถทำกำไรได้
inspired by - was given the idea by
venture - a new activity, usually in business, which involves risk or uncertainty ธุริกิจเสี่ยงแต่สามารถทำกำไรได้
However, customers have quickly taken to the new brand of lingerie, which they can buy for half the price of a pair of cheap underpants by Triumph.
About 50 workers, including designers, sewers and pattern cutters, work at the Try Arm "factory."
Workers brought in nine sewing machines from home, and borrowed 50,000 baht start-up money from the BFT union's strike fund for materials.
customers have quickly taken to -
very quickly customers liked it
buy - accept the truth of ยอมรับ, เห็นด้วยกับ (ความคิด, คำแนะนำ, ข้อเสนอแนะ)
pattern - a diagram or shape used as a guide when making something like clothes (See Wikipedia)
pattern cutters - skilled workers who design and create patterns used by others to make clothes
start-up money - the initial money or investment used to start a business
fund - money collected together for some purpose กองทุน
union strike fund - money that unions keep (from membership dues and contributions) used to pay workers not getting paid during a strike
strike - when the workers at a company stop working as a protest, in order to get higher pay or have other demands met
buy - accept the truth of ยอมรับ, เห็นด้วยกับ (ความคิด, คำแนะนำ, ข้อเสนอแนะ)
pattern - a diagram or shape used as a guide when making something like clothes (See Wikipedia)
pattern cutters - skilled workers who design and create patterns used by others to make clothes
start-up money - the initial money or investment used to start a business
fund - money collected together for some purpose กองทุน
union strike fund - money that unions keep (from membership dues and contributions) used to pay workers not getting paid during a strike
strike - when the workers at a company stop working as a protest, in order to get higher pay or have other demands met
We want to show the world that we are skilled workers and we need a better explanation from the company about why they made us redundant," said Tanyathorn Khiritawornpat, a Try Arm founder.
Try Arm underwear also proves the point that lingerie giants are raking in huge profits from their products," said the 38-year-old Kanchanaburi native.
We know the product cost is much lower than the market price, because we can make it for much less.
The BFT's labour union says the production cost of a pair of underpants - which can sell for 1,000-1,200 baht in European countries - is less than 100 baht
From the first pair of Try Arm panties which was made in late October, more than 3,000 pairs of underpants have now been sold to customers here and overseas. The workers have made almost 500,000 baht.
founder
- a person who establishes an institution, business, or organization
ผู้ก่อตั้ง
raking in huge profits - making a lot of money
native - someone who was born in a particular place ชาวพื้นเมือง
native - in the country, run by local farmers (not started by the foreign sponsored project) พื้นบ้าน
late - dead ที่ล่วงลับไปแล้ว
raking in huge profits - making a lot of money
native - someone who was born in a particular place ชาวพื้นเมือง
native - in the country, run by local farmers (not started by the foreign sponsored project) พื้นบ้าน
late - dead ที่ล่วงลับไปแล้ว
Customers include labour advocacy groups and the general public who bought the products from BFT union's booths at seminars.
There were also some walk-in customers, who came to buy Try Arm panties at our mini-factory at the ministry," said Ms Tanyathorn.
advocacy
- helping people defend their rights
booths - small areas in a larger public area where organisations and companies show their products and services
walk-in customers - customers who walk in to a company or store and buy things
mini - small
ministry - a government department dealing with an area of activity กระทรวง
booths - small areas in a larger public area where organisations and companies show their products and services
walk-in customers - customers who walk in to a company or store and buy things
mini - small
ministry - a government department dealing with an area of activity กระทรวง
The workers make various styles of underpants, which sell for 39, 59, and 69 baht, depending on fabric quality and design.
Each style comes in various colours and sizes, from the smallest size, XS, to the biggest, XXL, which is the best-selling size.
The makeshift factory cannot make complicated lingerie products, such as bras, as more advanced machines are needed.
fabric
- material used to make clothes
complicated - has so many parts connected in different ways that it is difficult to understand (for example, a complicated machine or a city with a complicated system of streets) ที่ซับซ้อน
complicated - has so many parts connected in different ways that it is difficult to understand (for example, a complicated machine or a city with a complicated system of streets) ที่ซับซ้อน
We select quality materials, including lace and elastic for our products.
The garments are assembled by the same hands that used to make a world-class lingerie brand," said Vipa Matchachart, 34, another sacked BFT worker who runs the Try Arm project.
lace - a white
fabric with a design made with holes in it (See Wikipedia)
elastic - a stretchable cloth or fabric used in clothes
garments - clothing
world-class - having high quality so it can be sold anywhere in the world
elastic - a stretchable cloth or fabric used in clothes
garments - clothing
world-class - having high quality so it can be sold anywhere in the world
High-quality fabric is expensive, but the workers know where to buy it cheaply.
We bought high-grade fabric that was left over from garment factories," she said.
The panties were originally just a symbol of the workers' fight. Now, they have become an earner in their own right
high-grade - high
quality
panties - small tight fitting underpants for women or girls (See Wikipedia)
symbol - something like a picture or some object used to represent some other thing (example: the eagle is the symbol of our football team)
panties - small tight fitting underpants for women or girls (See Wikipedia)
symbol - something like a picture or some object used to represent some other thing (example: the eagle is the symbol of our football team)
Try Arm panties are proof that good quality panties can be made cheaply without the need for branding costs, or advertising," said union adviser Ms Jitra.
They also represent a new choice for consumers who want to support fair trade and buy products made by craftspeople who work for themselves," she said.
proof
- some fact or argument that shows the truth of something
branding - creating and developing an identity or brand for a product, a brand is a collection of images and ideas surrounding the product in things such as an easily recognizable name, logo, slogan, and design scheme that convey the essence of a company, product or service (See Wikipedia)
branding - building a well-known name and image for a product
represent - are
consumers - people who buy things (individuals and families)
support - help, by giving money, for example สนับสนุน
trade - the buying and selling of goods การค้าขาย
fair trade - a social movement that aims to help producers in poorer countries earn a decent living (See Wikipedia)
branding - creating and developing an identity or brand for a product, a brand is a collection of images and ideas surrounding the product in things such as an easily recognizable name, logo, slogan, and design scheme that convey the essence of a company, product or service (See Wikipedia)
branding - building a well-known name and image for a product
represent - are
consumers - people who buy things (individuals and families)
support - help, by giving money, for example สนับสนุน
trade - the buying and selling of goods การค้าขาย
fair trade - a social movement that aims to help producers in poorer countries earn a decent living (See Wikipedia)
Contact Buyer Beware
consumers@bangkokpost.co.th
(Source: Angry Underpants, Laid-off garment workers take on former boss at own game and strike blow for labour rights, 20/02/2010, Kultida Samabuddhi, link)
