Four deceased Myanmar laborers receive 1 Million Baht (B1M) each in compensation following a fatal crash in Bangkok

News Alert

Compensation Awarded to Families Affected by Fatal Crane Collapse

In a heartwrenching incident that took place on the Samut Sakhon Expressway (RAMA-2), Thailand back in November 2024, four Myanmar workers lost their lives following a crane frame collapse while installing concrete blocks at the construction site. The unfortunate incident received widespread attention, and recently, the families of the deceased workers have received a much-deserved compensation of one million baht each.

According to reports, the devastating accident occurred around 4 am on November 29, 2024, during the construction of a 21-mile expressway overpass. In the aftermath of the tragedy, negotiations ensued between the responsible Thai company, the Myanmar Labour Attaché, and the Myanmar Embassy’s friends' group under the guidance of the Myanmar Ambassador to Thailand.

Fast forward to May 30, 2025, at the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, UDONSAK CHIANGMAI Co., Ltd., a Thai company, presented a total of four million baht in humanitarian compensation to the heartbroken families of the deceased workers.

The heart-wrenching incident highlights the complex landscape that foreign workers in Thailand navigate, especially in times of occupational risks, such as crane collapses. While legal workers may have some rights and benefits under the Thai labor law, undocumented workers often find themselves sidelined, deprived of the protections they need and deserve.

This terrifying incident comes amidst a backdrop of various ongoing developments in Thailand, involving ESG Index performance, monsoons, economic partnerships, and political struggles.

As the world continues to evolve, so does the need for broader protections for foreign workers, ensuring they experience safe working conditions, fair compensation, and justice when things go wrong.

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Insights

Foreign workers in Thailand, including both legal and undocumented, encounter a challenging legal and social environment when it comes to labor rights and compensation, especially in the wake of workplace accidents. Below, we provide a brief overview of the current conditions:

Labor Laws: Under Thai law, all workers, including foreign nationals, are entitled to certain labor rights, including secure work environments and compensation in the event of workplace incidents. This also extends to accessing the Social Security Fund (SSF) for properly registered and officially employed individuals.
Social Security: Legally employed foreign workers, who contribute to the SSF in Thailand, are typically covered for medical treatment, sickness, injuries, and death benefits. However, undocumented workers might not qualify for such benefits, making them more susceptible to mishaps.
Employee Welfare Fund (EWF): Due to commence from October 1, 2025, Thailand will implement the EWF, a mandatory social protection mechanism designed to provide financial security for certain workers, including dismissals, voluntary departures, or fatalities. The EWF aims to cater to marginalized groups such as temporary workers and jobless contract employees, but its immediate impact on undocumented foreign workers in the event of accidents remains unclear.
Accident Compensation: In scenarios such as the crane collapse on the Samut Sakhon Expressway, legally employed and SSF-covered workers can expect medical treatment, and injury compensation. Undocumented workers, on the other hand, may face obstacles in seeking compensation due to their illegal status, and are often at the mercy of their employers for support.

The tragic accident involving a crane collapse in Thailand's construction industry has shown the need for broader protections for foreign workers, especially in terms of safe working conditions, fair compensation, and justice.
Amidst the ongoing discussions about economic partnerships, political struggles, and general news in Thailand, the topic of workplace wellness and health and wellness for foreign workers, including legal and undocumented ones, should not be overlooked.
With the launch of the Employee Welfare Fund (EWF) in October 2025, there is hope that it will provide financial security for certain workers, including temporary and contract employees, although its immediate impact on undocumented foreign workers in the event of accidents remains unclear.
In the domain of finance and the business sector, it's crucial to address the complex landscape that foreign workers in Thailand face, from negotiating fair compensation after accidents to navigating the intricacies of the Thai labor law as undocumented workers.
As the world continues to evolve, so should the focus on workplace safety, justice, and wellness, especially within industries like construction and the general news landscape, to ensure that all workers, regardless of their status, are treated equitably and given the protections they need and deserve.

Four deceased Myanmar laborers receive 1 Million Baht (B1M) each in compensation following a fatal crash in Bangkok