News channel to be investigated after ‘overworked’ employee dies at his desk
Deleted Facebook post claims Sarawut Srisawat regularly worked overtime, often seven days a week
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A news organisation in Thailand is being investigated by the country’s labour ministry after an employee died while working at his desk.
Sarawut Srisawat, 44, collapsed at his desk after suffering a heart attack at the Thai News Network (TNN) building in Bangkok on Monday, according to local media reports.
Srisawat worked as a senior manager in charge of programme schedules and was allegedly heavily overworked, local media reported. He was also suffering underlying conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure.
A now-deleted Facebook post about Srisawat’s death went viral on social media and described him as an employee who regularly worked overtime, often seven days a week.
It alleged he was forced to do so as there was no one in the company to stand in for him and that he was recently called back from his sick leave to finish off work.
According to local media outlets, the post received thousands of comments from users who described their own stories of being overworked and demanded action against the company.
Following Srisawat’s death, Thailand’s labour minister Suchart Chomklin ordered a probe into the suspicions of overworking being a potential cause of the fatal heart attack.
Thailand’s labour code restricts working hours of employees at 48 hours a week. If an employee chooses to work extra hours, the law states that it should not exceed over 36 hours a week.
The probe into Srisawat’s death will also investigate whether he was forced to work extra hours or if his sick leaves were granted to him.
If the investigation finds TNN responsible, the victim’s family will be eligible for a monthly compensation of 70 per cent of his salary for 10 years along with pension payments from the country’s Social Security Office.
The family will also be eligible to receive a 50,000 baht (£1,233) funeral subsidy from TNN, which is a subsidiary of telecom giant True Corporation.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments