Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban took part in Labour Day celebrations yesterday, while caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra kept a low profile, citing safety fears related to the political unrest.
While Mr Suthep and his supporters joined celebrations at parliament, Ms Yingluck, together with caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, decided to send their representative, the permanent secretary for labour, to preside over activities at Sanam Luang.
The Labour Solidarity Committee and State Enterprises Workers’ Relation Confederation (SERC) held their own celebration at parliament.
They decided not to join the government-sponsored activities at Sanam Luang, and also chose not to deliver six demands it had drafted to state authorities.
“This government is illegitimate and has brought the country trouble,'' said SERC secretary-general Sawit Kaeowan, explaining why they wouldn't deliver their demands.
The labour groups will push for their demands later, once the government was expelled and reforms carried out, Mr Sawit said.
The groups’ first demand is that a new government must ratify two International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, enabling workers to form groups without the need to ask permission from authorities, and collectively negotiate with employers to resolve their conflicts without the threat of dismissal.
They also call for an end to any plans to privatise state enterprises and government attempts to interfere in state enterprise affairs.
Next, the government must avoid policies that violate labour rights.
Measures to keep down living costs and ensure fair access to education and medical treatment must also be implemented.
The government must also reform social security welfare to make sure all workers are afforded rights with their benefits.
On health issues, the labour groups also want the new government to ban chrysotile, a form of asbestos used in the construction industry, as the mineral is dangerous to workers’ health.
Mr Suthep agreed with the decision to hold over the demands until the next government takes shape.
"The demands can be submitted to the people’s government next month,” Mr Suthep, the secretary-general of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, told the workers.
Permanent secretary for Labour Chirasak Sukhonchat said authorities are aware of some of the demands, including those concerning the ILO conventions.
However, whether all of their demands will be met depends on the new government, he said.
Mr Chirasak was referring to a list of demands handed to him by 14 labour groups under the National Congress of Thai Labour which joined activities at Sanam Luang.