Crane group issues call for govt aid for workers

The Professional Crane Association (PCA) yesterday called on the government to speed up its rollout of relief measures to help construction businesses affected by Covid-19 restrictions.

PCA president, Sutthichai Piyarat-tanaworasakul, said the 30-day suspension of non-essential construction has had an adverse impact on more than 1,000 crane operators and 10,000 workers, with financial damages estimated at 1 billion baht.

He said the association would hand in a petition to state agencies demanding financial relief for operators and eligible workers this week, adding the PCA will also ask for a six-month debt moratorium and interest cuts.

According to Mr Sutthichai, many of the association’s members are working on the state’s infrastructure and transport projects, which include three electric rail projects owned by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA).

National Security Council chief, Natthapol Nakpanich, who heads the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) operations centre, said yesterday the easing of the Covid-19 rules on essential construction work came following a request from several organisations.

He said the CCSA agreed to the request after reviewing the proposal and finding it appropriate.

Four types of construction work were allowed to resume, including projects that if further delayed would result in damage to existing structures or could put the public at risk.

Other projects which received the go-ahead included those involving traffic safety, traffic lights, traffic barriers, and the construction of field hospitals, hospitals, and other medical facilities intended for Covid-19 containment.

Meanwhile, the Labour Network for People’s Right (LNPR) yesterday rallied outside Government House calling on the government to secure enough supplies of good quality Covid-19 vaccines for the public by the end of October.

The group said the Social Security Office (SSO) should be authorised to procure vaccines directly from manufacturers using the state’s budget, while urging the government to allow private firms to buy jabs directly for distribution.

The LNPR also demanded the government to provide financial relief to both Thai and foreign migrant workers affected by the pandemic.