Protesting temp workers win job security, benefits
The Education Ministry yesterday bowed to pressure from temporary employees of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec), agreeing to employ them under an old hiring system widely seen to offer better remuneration and greater job security.
The decision came after talks between acting education permanent secretary Prasert Boonruang, Obec’s acting chief Amnat Wichayanuwat, the Budget Bureau and the Comptroller General’s Department in the wake of a protest by hundreds of employees outside the Education Ministry early this week.
The protest was sparked by a letter issued by Obec announcing the redesignation of temporary school administration staff as outsourced employees. The workers argued the change in the hiring system which took effect on Oct 1 would hurt their job security and other welfare benefits.
Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan said yesterday some 13,000 of Obec’s temporary employees would be hired under the old monthly contract while new workers would be employed under the new hiring policy.
Mr Nataphol also said overdue payments to administrative teachers would be made by Oct 20 and assured the problem would not happen again.
Starting in the 2019 fiscal year, Obec decided to hire 15,000 administrative workers for state-run schools nationwide to free up teachers to concentrate on teaching.
On Tuesday, more than 1,000 Obec employees protesting outside the Education Ministry vowed not to disperse until they were guaranteed job security and fringe benefits.