The Star Malaysia

Thai court dismisses charges against migrant workers

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BANGKOK: A court in Bangkok dismissed criminal defamation charges against workers from Myanmar who had accused a chicken farm of abuses, in a landmark ruling seen as a rare victory for migrant workers’ rights in Thailand.

The case was triggered by a complaint that 14 workers filed to Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in 2016 about forced overtime, being paid under the minimum wage, confiscati­on of passports and limited freedom of movement.

The workers were charged in October in a first-of-its-kind criminal defamation case, which prompted campaigner­s to urge better protection for migrant labourers who complain about working conditions.

Yesterday, a judge said he believed the workers filed the NHRC complaint against the Thammakase­t chicken farm in “good faith”, and without false informatio­n.

“This is a very good verdict for all migrant workers in the country,” said Nakhon Chompuchat, a lawyer for the defendants.

“It says workers need not be afraid to speak up against violations by their employers. The workers are very happy,” he said by phone.

Their former employer, Thammakase­t farm, which supplied the Thai food conglomera­te Betagro, denied the charges from the outset and launched a lawsuit against the workers, saying the complaint has damaged its reputation.

Betagro, which sells to companies around the globe, later said it had cut ties with the farm.

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