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Mölnlycke's workers disposable?
Mölnlycke Health Care produces single-use surgical gowns near Bangkok. Workers there were accused of an “illegal strike” and fired in September 2011. A Thai special committee for resolving labour conflicts investigated the incident. The committee concluded that no strike had taken place and that Mölnlycke ought to reemploy the workers. However, Mölnlycke went to court instead.
Imprisoned for insulting the king
Somyot, a Thai labour activist, human rights defender and magazine editor, has been in detention since April 2011 for the publication of two articles deemed insulting to the king. He was sentenced to eleven years’ imprisonment in January 2013, with an appeal still pending.
OECD complaint after forced settlement
In 2011, 22 workers at the Mölnlycke factory were dismissed after the management accused them of “striking illegally”. The Thai Industrial Relations Committee (IRC), which looks into labour conflicts in the country, investigated the incident and concluded that the workers had to be reemployed. The case went to court after the management refused to reinstate them. In 2013 the case was settled and an OECD complaint was filed to question the outcome once more.
Sentenced to 11 years in prison
Somyot, a Thai labour rights activist, human rights defender and magazine editor, has been in detention since April 2011 for the publication of two articles deemed insulting to the king. He was sentenced to eleven years imprisonment in January 2013, with an appeal still pending.
Union leaders finally acquitted
In August 2009 the Bangkok police issued arrest warrants against three union activists for their role in a peaceful demonstration against the dismissal of nearly 2,000 workers at the Body Fashion Thailand factory, a wholly owned subsidiary of Triumph International. The case went on for several years until it was finally resolved in 2013, when the accused were acquitted.
'Insulting the king': Bail denied
Somyot Pruksakasemsuk's 16th request for bail and temporary release, made in November 2014, has been just turned down by the Supreme Court. Somyot had allegedly insulted the Thai royal family.
Burmese migrant workers' factory announces closure
Over 500 Burmese migrant workers at the Yuan Jiou factory in Mae Sot, Thailand, were fighting to be paid the minimum wage, for an end to forced overtime and for an employment contract. In the fall of 2014 the factory announced its closure as of December.
Thai Labour Advocate arrested
Please contact the Thai authorities today and ask the immediate release of Somyot Pruksakasemsuk. The well-known Thai labour- and human-rights advocate has been arrested following the recent political upheaval in Thailand.
Thai Labour Activist Somyot Pruksakasemsuk Released
The Clean Clothes campaign is very pleased that Somyot Prukasakasemsuk has been released, and wants to thank you all very much for your quick action and support!
Thai human rights activist imprisoned for second time
We need your support to demand the immediate release of the well-known Thai human-rights activist and journalist Somyot Pruksakasemsuk. He was arrested on April 30 on charges of lèse majesté, or the crime of insulting the king. This accusation can lead to a maximum of 15 years in prison and is criticised for being used to silence political opponents and human-rights activists. The Clean Clothes Campaign signals that charges of lèse majesté have over the last two years increasingly been used to silence labour-rights activists.
More pressure needed to release Thai Human Rights activist
Thanks to all of you for taking the time to contact the Thai government and request the release of the well-known Thai human-rights activist and journalist Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, who was arrested on April 30 on charges of lèse majesté, or the crime of insulting the king. Please also support this new appeal.
Further action for Somyot!
Today in Copenhagen activists from over 10 European Clean Clothes networks held a demonstration outside the Thai Embassy to protest at the continued detention of Somyot Pruksakasemsuk. Activists handed over a letter to the embassy representative, demanding the release of Somyot. We were told by the Embassy that Somyot had been released but we now know this is not true – we believe the Embassy made a mistake – in an ironic twist of fate Somyot was released on 13 June 2010.
Free Somyot: Urgent message to the new Thai government before July 24
We urgently call upon you to take action once more in support of Thai human rights activist and journalist Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, who has been in jail now on charges of 'lese majeste' for 2.5 months.
Somyot charged under Thai lese majeste law
Last Monday July 25 2011, after 84 days detention, Somyot Pruksakasemsuk was brought to the criminal court to hear the prosecutor's charges against him.
Updates from the Somyot trial in Thailand
On January 16th, Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, editor of “Voice of Taksin” magazine, was brought to Nakornsawan Provincial Court for the third hearing of the prosecution witnesses. More than 40 supporters and family attended, including an international observer, John Maynard, the president of the Postal Workers Union of Australia, and long time friend of Somyot’s.
First time victory: Migrant workers receive minimum wage in Thailand
For the first time, migrant workers in the Mae Sot area successfully demanded wages in accordance with the new legal minimum wage. Factory owner M Apparel (one of Lee's suppliers) gave into the demand of 323 (mostly female) workers after negotiations with the workers who received support of MAP foundation and Yaung Chi Oo Worker Association.
Free Somyot! Freedom of speech is not a crime
On 19 September the Thai Criminal Court will announce the date of the verdict of Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, well known editor and long time labour rights activist in Thailand. He can face 30 years in prison. We need your voice again, so let it be loud!
Large public procurer in Norway publicly supports dismissed Thai workers
The South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, the largest public procurer in the health sector in Norway, publicly supports a number of dismissed Thai workers at Mölnlycke Health Care (Thailand) Ltd. The company which produces hospital gowns sacked 22 unionized workers in September 2011 following their participation in what the gown manufacturer describes as an 'illegal strike'.
Books and plastic replicas of prison food: a visit to Somyot
In November, our colleague Marcella Kraay visited Somyot in prison in Thailand.
Dismissed Mölnlycke workers continue their struggle
More than one year of workers' struggle has not moved the company Mölnlycke Health Care (Thailand) Ltd., the Thai subsidiary of a Swedish multinational, to reinstate 22 union members that were unfairly dismissed in September 2011. The company produces hospital gowns for among others public health institutions in Sweden and Norway. Norwegian health institutions recently announced it would be particularly hard to sign a new contract with Mölnlycke given the company's continued refusal to reinstate the workers even after a national tripartite body ordered them to do so. Mölnlycke produces a wide range of other medical devices in several countries, including Indonesia, Belgium, Thailand, Malaysia, France, Poland and the Czech Republic.
Court hearing Somyot 19th December: an update
Somyot, a Thai labour activist, human rights defender and magazine editor, has been in detention since April 2011, awaiting trial under the Thai lèse-majesté law* (Article 112) for the publication of two articles deemed insulting to the monarch. He faces up to 30 years in prison.
Final push to free Somyot
“Here in Thailand they know I get a lot of international support. Without that support I would maybe already be dead.”
International condemnation of conviction of Thai activist Somyot Prueksakasemsuk
Clean Clothes Campaign, together with the Free Somyot Campaign and the Thai Labour Campaign strongly deplores the conviction of human rights defender and magazine editor Somyot Prueksakasemsuk. Today, the Bangkok Criminal Court found him guilty on 2 counts of Article 112 of the Criminal Code (the lèse-majesté law*) and sentenced him to 11 years of imprisonment.
Migrant workers excluded from maternity leave
In August, long time CCC partner the MAP Foundation in Thailand publicized the outrageous proposal by a senior official at the Thai Ministry of Labour. The proposal states that migrant workers should be excluded from the right to maternity leave, child allowance and unemployment benefits.
Wife of convicted Thai lèse-majesté activist Somyot in Geneva
Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), together with the Free Somyot Campaign and the Thai Labour Campaign, urges the Thai authorities to hear Joop Prueksakasemsuk, Somyot’s wife, who calls to free her husband, labour and human rights defender and magazine editor. Joop Prueksakasemsuk will be in Geneva between 9-13 September, meeting key decision makers.