Over a thousand workers at a Chonburi factory protest following Covid-19 related closure and confusion, authorities manage to calm down the situation

PHOTO: Pu Kerd Malui

Ban Bueng –

Roughly over a thousand Thai and migrant workers at a factory in Ban Bueng on Sunday (August 8th) protested Covid-19 related measures taking place, claiming the situation was not clearly communicated. Relevant officials from Ban Bueng and the Chonburi Public Health Department eventually helped calm down the situation.

The protest reportedly started after a security guard from the factory requested that protesters asking to know what was going on to social distance from each other. Some protesters reportedly attacked the security guard and he was taken to a local hospital. Police and authorities were called to the factory, along with Chonburi Public Health Officials, to explain what was going on.

The Ban Bueng District Chief himself, Pisit Sirisawatdikun, assisted with the situation to avoid further conflict.

Multiple Chonburi Authorities talked with factory workers via an interpreter, as the vast majority were foreign migrant workers.  Cambodians and Myanmar workers told the Ban Bueng District Chief Mr. Pisit Sirisawatdikun they wanted the factory to temporarily close and conduct a Covid -19 test for everyone. They also wanted any high-risk person to be quarantined outside the factory not inside. There had reportedly been panic and confusion following initial orders from security guards and instructions not to leave the premises.

This all followed cases of Covid-19 reportedly being found at the factory following proactive testing from Chonburi Public Health Officials.

Staff didn’t disagree with the Covid-19 measures overall, according to factory workers, but wanted to ensure that people possibly positive for Covid-19 were not being kept with the general population of the factory if they had to be quarantined on the premises.

Deputy Director of Ban Bueng District Public Health Office Mr. Watcharin Songrak told factory workers they are doing ‘Bubble and Seal’ or quarantine, and all patients are being treated. Factory workers also suggested the Chonburi governor to order a temporary closure for the factory, Royal Finishing Company Limited, which he did later in the evening as you can see by the order here.

After workers understood the process they all agreed to the terms and conditions. All 1,700 workers will be under the system of Bubble and Seal as authorities and the factory owner had already planned the measures with Chonburi authorities.

Bubble and Seal essentially is a program in which staff at a sealed premise can only leave with the authority of Chonburi Public Health Officials. People positive for Covid-19 are separated from the rest of the factory, usually at on-site field hospitals, but normal operations can continue.  This also prohibits new workers or others from entering the premises, keeping it secure from future cases of Covid-19.

Staff that needs assistance under bubble and seal are given supplies, food, and help from relevant agencies and their employers. The factory is allowed to continue operations under the plan, with staff living on the premises.

The factory workers were said to accept the explanation and measures from Chonburi officials.

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Goongnang Suksawat
Goong Nang is a News Translator who has worked professionally for multiple news organizations in Thailand for many years and has worked with The Pattaya News for more than four years. Specializes primarily in local news for Phuket, Pattaya, and also some national news, with emphasis on translation between Thai to English and working as an intermediary between reporters and English-speaking writers. Originally from Nakhon Si Thammarat, but lives in Phuket and Krabi except when commuting between the three.