webfact Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 Activists up in arms over new factory law By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM THE NATION FILE photo PROPOSED LAW AIMS TO BOOST INVESTMENT AT THE COST OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT THE POLLUTION crisis will only worsen if the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) pushes through the revised Factory Act, environmentalists warned yesterday. Several environment protection groups called on the NLA to reject the bill and avoid taking the country down a path of environmental and health dystopia. A line-up of new laws awaits the legislature’s approval, with the newly amended and controversial Factory Bill scheduled for discussion and vote today. The proposed law has been slammed for weakening regulations that protect the environment and people’s health from industrial by-products. Penchom Saetang, director of Ecological Alert and Recovery Thailand (Earth), said the new law aimed to boost investment at the expense of people’s health and the environment. Allowing large-scale exemptions and watering down protection measures will create a severe health and environmental crisis, Penchom added. “It will only improve the country’s industrial investment atmosphere slightly, but enforcing this law will harm the country as a whole due to its severe adverse impacts. Industrial investors will also be among the victims,” she warned. By easing the requirements, the law will contribute to industrial pollution and stir up conflict between investors and locals, she explained. “Worse environmental problems will pop up,” she said, because under the new law, factories with fewer than 50 employees will no longer be required to register. “So, not only will these small factories pop up everywhere, they will also not be subjected to regular inspections.” However, she warned that factory owners will not escape negative impacts either. Once conflicts with local communities arise, production will be slowed or even completely suspended. Not easy for owners either “They will also face unforeseen expenses such as lawsuits or a damaged reputation,” Penchom warned. Gunn Tattiyakul, Eastern Economic Corridor Watch coordinator, said as many as 60,539 or 43 per cent of total factories nationwide will no longer be considered factories under the new law. “This means that almost half of the factories in this country will no longer be subject to environment and health-protection regulations, so we are going to face even greater threats from PM2.5 and other industrial pollution,” Gunn cautioned. Also, under the new law, factory licences will no longer have an expiration date, which means inspections that used to take place every five years for licence renewal will be suspended. Factory owners will also be able to easily expand their facilities without having to seek permission. However, supporters of the Factory Act say the redefinition of factories will allow local administrative bodies to regulate small operations in their area, and also promote decentralisation of the governing system. Meanwhile, Thongchai Chawalitpichaet, director-general of the Industrial Works Department, said further liberalisation of industrial regulations was being planned. He also said that under the new law, officials from his department will inspect factories and will be stricter than the easy-going state officials, he said. “Even though licences will no longer need to be renewed, the department will regularly inspect all factories. But now, better qualified people will replace the existing officials to improve the quality of service,” Thongchai said. What will the Factory Act include? A new legal definition of “factory” will change the status of nearly 43 per cent or over 60,000 factories across the nation, freeing them from any legal bindings. A new legal definition of “factory construction” will make industrial investments easier. Factory licences will have no expiration date after Articles 14 and 15 of the previous version of the law are dropped. Factories can be easily expanded after Article 19/1 is amended. Easing regulations on industrial pollution will put the well-being of locals at risk. Sources: Ecological Alert and Recovery Thailand (Earth) and Eastern Economic Corridor Watch Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30364470 -- © Copyright The Nation 2019-02-21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YetAnother Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 2 hours ago, webfact said: So, not only will these small factories pop up everywhere, they will also not be subjected to regular inspections.” Thailand seems to have a special talent for enacting exactly the wrong laws, maybe we need intelligence here in law-makers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesofa Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 4 minutes ago, YetAnother said: Thailand seems to have a special talent for enacting exactly the wrong laws, maybe we need intelligence here in law-makers 'intelligence here in law-makers'. I'd suggest that in itself is a stumbling block. However, enforcement of any laws will only happen selectively, and in this case I'll bet at the request of competitors who have more political clout than the small companies they'll want closing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SABloke Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought I read someshere that the NLA would go into recess and refrain from enacting laws from Dec. 2018 until the new government takes over. Am I crazy? Anyway, a lot of bills going through these days... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SABloke Posted February 20, 2019 Share Posted February 20, 2019 So under this new "law", if I had 90 employees at my factory, A) I have pesky regulations and inspections to deal with and B) I own a factory. BUT if I split my factory in 2 and break up my employees into groups of 45, I now A) Don't have to deal with any regulations and B) Am the proud new owner of two buildings where people gather to work, but not 2 factories.???? Makes perfect sense to me... ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lupatria Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 Are the prices set already for a license to mess up the environment, or will this be a matter of individual negotiation skills? And which office is actually collecting the "fee"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesofa Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 1 minute ago, Lupatria said: Are the prices set already for a license to mess up the environment, or will this be a matter of individual negotiation skills? And which office is actually collecting the "fee"? A good point there. I wouldn't call you cynical, but realistic. I've been through the same process years ago when renewing a licence costing 2,000 Baht. The 'officer' at the amphur wanted a 'fee' of 10,000 Baht. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snow Leopard Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 Going backwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holy cow cm Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 Good ole NLA again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soalbundy Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 It's for your own good, you know it makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redline Posted February 21, 2019 Share Posted February 21, 2019 They don’t are about Thai people. Trump is doing the same thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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