IBC泰國法律金融會計事務所International Business Consultancy

Labor Litigation in Thailand

泰國勞工訴訟須知

Employers and Employees are in an adversarial relationship since the old time. When both parties cannot reach an agreement, usually an employee will file a lawsuit to improve conditions of employment. As we mentioned before in the article “Introduction of Different Types of Courts in Thailand”, labor court is the first instance court handling labor dispute. Therefore, what are basic concepts when filing a lawsuit in labor court in Thailand?

自古以來勞資雙方一直處於對立關係，當雙方無法取得一個平衡點，通常勞工會採取訴訟方式以改善工作環境。先前在介紹泰國法院時有提過，泰國勞工法院專門處理勞工爭議。在泰國勞工法院進行訴訟時，需要注意哪些地方?

According to Act on the Establishment of and Procedure for Labor Court, B.E. 2522 (1979), following is procedure for labor cases in labor court:

依據佛曆2522年(西元1979年)《泰國勞動法院設置暨勞動訴訟法》，以下為勞工爭議案的程序:

1. The filing of a plaint as well as any proceedings conducted in the labor court shall be exempted from court costs.[1] 

  勞工向勞動法院起訴、 以及訴訟過程豁免支付任何費用。

2. A labor plaint shall be filed with the labor court within the territorial jurisdiction of which the cause of action arose.[2]

  訴訟應該向爭議發生所在地管轄範圍內的勞工法院提出。

3. The plaintiff may either file a written plaint or state his claim orally before the court. If the plaintiff states his claim orally, the court shall be empowered to make investigation as necessary in the interest of justice, then make a memorandum of such claim and shall have it read out to, and signed by the plaintiff.[3]

     原告可以以書面或者是口頭方式向勞工法院起訴。如果是口頭起訴，法院可做必要的調查、將原告之指控紀錄下來， 並且請求原告宣讀並簽名。

4. The employers or the employees may authorize an employers' association or a labor union of which they are members or a competent official who is empowered to take legal action under the law governing the labor protection or the law governing the labor relations to represent them in the proceedings.[4]

     雇主跟員工可以依據《泰國勞工保護法》或《泰國勞動關係法》 分別將其代理權授權他們隸屬的雇主組織 和工會組織。

5. If the plaintiff who is aware of the order requiring him to appear in court under Section 37, fails to appear without notifying the labor court of the reason of his non-appearance, it shall be deemed that the plaintiff has no intention to proceed with the case.[5]

  如原告未依據第 37條規定出庭且沒有告知未出庭的理由，勞工法院可視為原告無繼續訴訟的意願。

6. In the dismissal case, if the labor court thinks the dismissal is unfair, it shall order the employer to reinstate the employee at the same level of wage at the time of dismissal.

    However, if the labor court thinks that such employee and employer cannot work together, it shall fix the amount of compensation to be paid by the employer which the labor court shall take into consideration the age of the employee, the working period of the employee, the employee's hardship when dismissed, the cause of dismissal and the compensation the employee is entitled to receive.[6]

   在雇主解僱勞工之案件中，如果勞工法院認為係不當之解僱，勞工法院可判令雇主返聘回勞工並給付與被解僱時一致之工資待遇。

   如果勞工法院認為該勞工與雇主不能再繼續合作，勞工法院可以規定雇主給付勞工賠償金。賠償金之金額，勞工法院得將勞工之年齡、工作經歷、解僱後之困難、解僱原因以及勞工有資格獲得之資遣費綜合考量。

7. Subject to the provisions of this Act or other legislations, only the question of law in the judgment or order of the labor court can be appealed and the appeal shall lie with Supreme Court within fifteen days from the date of its pronouncement.[7]

   如果對勞工法院的判決不服 ，任一方可以針對判決的法律問題在判決宣讀後15天內向泰國最高法院上訴。

8. The Supreme Court shall promptly consider the labor case and give judgment or order. In considering the case, the Supreme Court shall rely on the facts established in the labor court. But, if the facts are not sufficient, the Supreme Court shall order the labor court to hear further facts and then return the file to the Supreme Court without delay.[8]

泰國最高法院收到上訴後須進行審理。如果最高法院認為勞工法院對判決事實與法律問題判決地不充分，可以要求勞工法院進一步查明事實，再整理送回最高法院。

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are considering filing a lawsuit in Thailand

如需諮詢泰國起訴程序請不吝於聯絡我們。

IBC International Business Consultancy is a law and accounting firm located in Bangkok, Thailand with experienced lawyers, accountants, and financial advisers. We provide services including investment, tax and legal advice in Thailand.

IBC泰國法律金融會計事務所 (International Business Consultancy) 為一間位於曼谷的泰國事務所，由經驗豐富的律師、會計師、及財務顧問組成，可提供泰國投資、泰國稅收及泰國法律諮詢等服務。

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