BANGKOK, Feb 16 – Workers of the state-operated Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) declared their refusal to work overtime this weekend and pressed for the dismissal of director general Viroj Chongchansittho, who was charged with mismanagement and creating internal conflicts.
The PAT labour union announced that 500-600 stevedores will not work beyond official working hours, starting from 4.30 pm Friday until tomorrow.
The threat prompted shipping companies to call for an immediate solution to the labour dispute, or their logistics costs would be severely affected.
Charae Meedanu, PAT labour union leader, said the stevedores will resume their regular working hours on Monday morning and some importers/exporters have been informed of their move.
The labour union called on the PAT management to suspend the employment of Mr Viroj and demanded that PAT give overdue overtime payment to employees.
The PAT board of directors is scheduled to have its regular meeting on Monday and a review of Mr Viroj’s performance is on the agenda. Mr Viroj’s employment term is due to expire in April 2015.
Paiboon Polsuwanna, chairman of the Thai National Shippers’ Council, said exporters hope the conflict will last only a few days, or their logistics costs will surge.
Over the last several years, exporters have done their best in meeting deadlines in their product delivery and even requested round-the-clock stevedores’ service, he said.
