Bangkok: Anti-corruption lawyer Kritsada Intamara has spearheaded an effort involving more than 100 employees of the Port Authority of Thailand to demand compensation and oppose plans for the development of an entertainment complex on Port Authority land.
According to Thai News Agency, Kritsada Intamara led the group to the Port Authority, where they conducted a merit-making ceremony in memory of those affected by a previous legal battle. The case involved accusations of overtime compensation fraud against 560 employees, with claims totaling over 3 billion baht. Between 2002 and 2012, the Central Labor Court ultimately dismissed the charges against all 34 accused employees, thereby exonerating all 560 involved.
In response to this legal resolution, Intamara and the affected employees have submitted a letter requesting the Port Authority board to provide an initial compensation of 100,000 baht to each employee within 15 days. Should the compensation not be forthcoming, they plan to escalate their complaint to several agencies, including the Office of the Ombudsman, the National Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Justice. Additionally, the employees voiced their opposition to the Entertainment Venue Act, amid reports that the Port Authority's land in Klong Toey may be earmarked for an entertainment complex. Ms. Suwirat Chatwarinwarin, Director of the Office of the Secretary of the Port Authority of Thailand, has received the letter and will present it to the board chairman for further review.
