สภาพการอยู่อาศัยของแรงงานในสถานประกอบการอุตสาหกรรมแปรรูปอาหารและประมงขนาดใหญ่ในเขตเทศบาลนครสมุทรสาคร จังหวัดสมุทรสาคร / สิรินทร นรินทร์ศิลป์ = Living conditions of workers in large-scale food processing and fishery factories in Samutsakorn Municipality, Samutsakorn Province / Sirinthorn Narinsilpa
Samutsakorn Province’s developmental and strategic goals include expansion of the agricultural products processing industry and the fishery industry. This has led to the establishment of a significant number of factories in the area which has, in turn, stimulated demand for workers’ housing near these factories. The provision of accommodation for workers in these factories is an important issue. This study explores the living conditions of workers at large-scale food processing and fishery factories in Samutsakorn City Municipality by examining their economic and social status, and other relevant demographic factors. Four hundred workers were randomly selected for the study from the 3,997 Thai and migrant workers at 3 large factories in Samutsakorn City Municipality. The study examines some of their problems and provides recommendations for improving and developing housing for factory workers. The results indicate that Thais comprise 60 percent of the workforce, with the remaining 40 percent being made up of migrant workers. The majority of these factory workers are female (57.8 percent) in the 31-40-year old age group (59.0 percent). More than half of the workers are illegal migrants (52.0 percent). Many workers only have a primary school level of education (35.8 per cent) while 74.3 percent are married, 48.5 percent have 1-2 children, and 34.0 percent have 3-4 family members in their household. Just over half of the sampled workers have household incomes of 5,000-10,000 baht/month (52.0 percent), but only 38.9 percent indicated that their income was sufficient to cover their expenses and to allow them to save some money (38.9 percent). In regard to the level of their relationships with neighbors, slightly more than half of the Thai workers reported high-level relationships with their neighbors (56.3 percent) and a willingness to participate in activities (54.6 percent), whereas migrant workers had lower level relationships with their neighbors (55.0 percent) and expressed a reluctance to participate in most activities (79.4 percent). Many Thai workers rent plots of land, construct their own houses (44.2 percent), and pay land rent of approximately 2,000-3,000 baht/year. All migrant workers pay rent for dormitory-style accommodation or an apartment (31.9 percent),
at the rate of approximately 2,000-3,000 baht/month. Currently, the living conditions for both types of workers are rated as fair (54.5 percent). Their living spaces have 1-2 floors (91.5 percent), with brick walls that are plastered and painted, in a reinforced concrete skeleton (65.5 percent). Frequently the land is less than 40 square meters (38.6 percent). The size of the room may be only 3-10 square meters (39.7 percent), with 1 bedroom (57.5 percent) and a shared bathroom (65.0 percent). Significantly, 30.8 percent of Thai workers reported financial problems. They think that their rent is too costly, as it is greater than 30 percent of their income. Migrant workers face an additional problem regarding the lack of secure accommodation (34.9 percent) because they are unregistered (illegal) and are not protected by Thai laws. Migrant workers, therefore, are concerned about their personal security and that of their property. Security issues also concern Thai workers since the large number of illegal migrants living in these areas makes some Thais feel unsafe. In summary, the establishment of large-scale food processing and fishery factories in this area has had a significant local impact on the physical environment, economy, and society. The physical characteristic of workers’ accommodation has resulted in feelings of insecurity, a reduction in the quality of life, and a decrease in the amenity of the residential environment. Therefore, the relevant organizations and agencies, including the government, the private sector and civil society, should participate in a process to define and solve these problems through appropriate and effective methods of planning, development and regulation.
