Over 300 Bangkok BTS Skytrain employees staged a protest outside the Government House at present, demanding that the Thai authorities settles its debt of over 50 billion baht. The employees are threatening to strike if the debt is not repaid or a measure is launched to unravel the difficulty.
The government and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) owe over 50 billion baht to the BTS Group Holdings Public Company which constructed the BTS Green Line in 2019 on the BTS Skytrain network.
The BTS Skytrain reminded the government to pay its debt in April of 2021 and in November of final year with a debt assortment video. The firm shamed the government by airing the video on every display inside the BTS trains and stations. However, no official announcement by the federal government has been made in response.
In concern of dropping their jobs, over 300 BTS Skytrain staff protested near Parliament at present. The protesting workers held banners with messages to the federal government saying…
“Who will take duty for our wages?”
“Government, please understand us. #DebtMustBePaid”
“Stop bullying BTS”
“BTS wants justice!”
The group’s consultant, Sakesak Hoonsa-ard, informed the media that…
“We are right here to submit a letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to name for the repayment of the 50 billion baht debt. I insisted that we come here by ourselves, as the representatives of BTS staff, not the corporate. Priceless are nervous that the debt will finally have an effect on us in the future. One day the BTS may need to cease operation as a result of the corporate is unable to pay for the electric system, water, and workers members.”
The group threatened the federal government with a strike if they don’t repay the debt or launch measures to resolve the difficulty inside seven days of the protest.
An official from the Office of the Prime Minister, Phumin Plangsombat, obtained the letter from the protestors.
The BTS Green Line opened in 2017. It includes forty seven stations masking three provinces including Bangkok, Samut Prakarn, and Pathum Thani. Fares start at 17 baht and continue to extend by 3 to four baht per station. The fares elevated on January 1 from the previous fee of 16 to 44 baht to 17 to forty seven baht..