Daikin talks resume after mass lockout

Union, firm clash over bonus terms

- POST REPORTERS

The Department of Labour Protection and Welfare will today mediate another round of negotiations between Daikin Industries (Thailand) Co and its labour union, after the company locked out roughly 1,700 employees amid a prolonged dispute over bonuses and gold-based benefits.

Pongthep Phetsom, the department's deputy director-general, said this marks the 12th mediation session since talks began in September.

The deadlock, he said, centres on a longstanding gold benefit scheme that has become increasingly costly as gold prices rise. Daikin spent around 100 million baht on gold payments last year, and the amount could nearly double this year, he said.

The gold benefit, negotiated under the Labour Relations Act, is part of a contractual package that allows employers and workers to agree on terms exceeding legal minimum standards.