Five workers from a lead melting factory in Mae Sod, Thailand, were expelled from work and many workers were taken by police after an argument between workers and employer for asking salaries around 7 PM Wednesday night. The five workers who were alleged to initiate the problem were expelled from work and another 30 workers were taken by police after breaking out an argument with the owner of the factory. "Some workers are working with monthly salary of 600-700 while others get 1200 baht. They were not paid for 7 months and the owner owed them to pay 5000 to 8000 baht each. The problem started when the owner paid them only 100 baht although they asked for 500 baht each for general expenses. We don't know where the police will send the other 30 workers," said a spoke-person from "Aurora" workers group on telephone interview. The owner explained to the police that the salary list was not with him as the manager went back to Burma. The majority of workers are ethnic Karen and Pa-O nationals and they had to handle lead without any protection resulting in skin diseases and stomach ulcers, explained a worker from the factory, which is situated at 68/30 Soi Ban Tu in Mae Tao quarters in Mae Sod. There were about 80 workers working there. Source: “Burmese workers expelled from work for asking their salaries,?Feb 20. Network Media Group