Flashermac Posted November 4, 2007 Report Share Posted November 4, 2007 Bangkok Post 4 Nov 2007 Thai workers brawl in Kuwait: Drunk construction crews slug it out with Egyptians Hundreds of Thai construction workers in Kuwait have been evacuated to a new camp following a clash with fellow labourers from Egypt which left six Thais injured. Manoon Poonyakriyakorn, chief of the Employment Department, said the six workers are being treated for minor injuries. There are no reports of deaths from the melee, which broke out at about 7pm (Kuwait time) on Thursday when about 300 Egyptian workers stormed the camp occupied by about 200 Thais. The employer, a large construction company, has stepped in to take control of the situation and authorities are closely monitoring events while both Thai and Egyptian workers were confined by Kuwait police, he said. Mr Manoon added that his department has temporarily suspended the recruitment of Thai workers to the firm pending an assessment of the situation. Dusit Chantasen, Thailand's ambassador to Kuwait, said the Thai and Egyptian workers had had some minor disputes previously. However, he said he learned that the clash erupted after some drunken Thai workers entered the camp site's Islamic praying room, considered a sacred place by Muslims. The ambassador was unsure whether charges would be pressed against the Egyptians as it would be hard to pinpoint the wrongdoers. However, nearly 20 Thai workers were being charged for drinking alcohol, which is illegal in Kuwait. The common penalty for drinking alcohol is one month in detention before deportation. The Thai embassy is demanding the employer pay compensation for the damage to the Thais' property during the fight. "But the company did not want to get involved, saying it was a dispute between workers. Besides, as Thais were caught drinking, they were at a disadvantage," he said. He linked the Thai workers' drinking problems to stress, as they are poorly paid - earning only 8,000-9,000 baht a month, which is far less than they expected. He urged the concerned authorities to keep the workers better informed of the income they will earn in Kuwait and warn them of the ban on drinking alcohol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayRay Posted November 4, 2007 Report Share Posted November 4, 2007 Ha ha ha... guess those Thais aren't so tough when they don't out number the other guys 8 to 1. And who would have thought a bunch of Thai construction workers would get liquored up and start shit? I'm shocked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Munchmaster Posted November 4, 2007 Report Share Posted November 4, 2007 Construction workers in Dubai earn the equivalent of 6 to 7,000 Baht per month. They're mostly from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faustian Posted November 4, 2007 Report Share Posted November 4, 2007 I thought slavery was abolished....this is a disgusting exploitation, i wonder who owns the construction companies? Nice big fat profits made on the buildings no doubt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCgringo Posted November 4, 2007 Report Share Posted November 4, 2007 how long does it take just to pay off your airline ticket if you are only getting 8000 baht a month, OC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torrenova Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 how long does it take just to pay off your airline ticket if you are only getting 8000 baht a month, OC And there is the big question. The cheapest I have heard is about 50k to the "agent" and most families don't have that so they mortgage land or borrow from someone. A few years ago I knew someone whose wife fronted the cash. She was lending 100k to them and they were going to Korea and Taiwan. The interest was 10k per month and the 100k had to be paid back after 1 year. Total interest at a flat 120% pa ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted November 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 BANGKOK POST 5 Nov 2007 Embassy aids arrested Thais in Kuwait By Penchan Charoensuthipan Thai embassy officials have met with Thai workers involved in a massive brawl in Kuwait on Thursday and are providing them with legal and other assistance, Labour Ministry spokesman Pairoj Suksamrit said. About 20 Thai workers are being detained by the Kuwaiti authorities for drinking alcohol, an offence usually punished by one month's detention followed by deportation. About 300 Egyptian workers stormed a camp occupied by 200 Thai workers on Thursday. The clash erupted after some drunken Thai workers entered the camp site's Muslim prayer room, Thai ambassador to Kuwait Dusit Chantasen said. Labour permanent secretary Juthathawat Intharasuksri said the remaining Thai workers had been transferred to a new camp after the incident. The ministry is carrying out its own investigation into the cause of the clash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted November 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 THE NATION 5 Nov 2007 A brawl between Thai and Egyptian construction workers in Kuwait last week that led to the deaths of two Thai workers was reportedly caused by drunken Thais urinating in an area reserved for Muslim prayers. However, Labour Minister Apai Chandanachulaka said no Thai workers had been killed as a result of the brawl last Thursday night, but four had sustained slight injuries. A worker's relative in Phichit, Yor, (not her real name) told The Nation Monday that her son-in-law, who is one of 1,000 Thai workers at the Kuwait site, often told her that the Thai and Egyptian workers did not get along well. The Egyptian workers bullied the Thais by cutting into the queues for food and pushing to get on vehicles to work, she said. In the latest incident, some of the 20,000 Egyptian workers invaded the Thai workers' camp on Thursday night, attacking them and damaging their belongings. They were furious that drunken Thai workers had intruded on the Muslim camp's prayer room and reportedly urinated there, Yor said. Yor said that her son-in-law had contacted her on Sunday saying that many Thai workers were injured and at least two were killed in the brawl. She quoted him as saying that labour recruitment agencies had moved the Thai workers out of the area and promised to provide extra security. "The government's information doesn't match what we know from those who were there. After the brawl, my son-in-law and other Thai workers felt disheartened. But the Thai ambassador, who went to inspect the scene and provide assistance, did not do what he supposed to do because, soon after his arrival, he hurried away for fear of security," Yor said. Some Thai workers' had requested repatriation due to fear for their safety. She said many Thai workers wanted to come home, so she had called a government hotline 1111 to ask for assistance in repatriating them but did not receive a satisfactory response. She was told by officials to contact the Phichit Labour Office, despite the fact that the matter was urgent, she said. Meanwhile, Apai said he had instructed three labour recruitment agencies to review their plans for taking care of Thai workers in Kuwait in cases of emergency. Apai said it was up to the Kuwaiti legal system whether or not the Thai workers involved in the brawl would be sent back home. He insisted the incident was an isolated case involving a particular group and thus would not affect other Thai workers in Kuwait. On Sunday the Labour Ministry ordered recruitment agencies to stop sending Thai workers to Kuwait until an investigation into the brawl was complete and to prevent the situation from getting worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCgringo Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 is there a passanger boat service out of Thailand to the middle east ? I wonder if thats how they got there , cheaper than flying if they as sent "Thai style" sleeping on the floors etc OC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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