Film Director Warns of Rampant Labor Exploitation in Entertainment Industry

Renowned film director Madeeya Chuekiatti Saksiveerakul, chair of the Thai Film Directors Association, participated in a forum titled "Know Before You Accept Work" held on July 3rd at the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center. Before the discussion on unpaid wages, he spoke candidly with media about the event.

When asked about the forum, Madeeya said: "I'm honored to organize this event with the Labor Ministry. As chair of the directors association, I've received complaints from countless industry professionals who've been cheated, defrauded, and exploited. Yesterday I testified in court about entertainment industry issues—people accepting work and not getting paid is rampant. The cumulative damages in our entertainment sector have reached into the hundreds of millions of baht. Whether it's outright non-payment or vanishing investments, we need help. The directors association helps mediate disputes, and the Labor Ministry has been invaluable. Often, small-time workers are cheated of their wages, but going to court costs tens of thousands in legal fees. The Labor Ministry operates labor courts and has a worker protection department. What's great is that anyone facing employment problems can walk in to the Labor Ministry directly for mediation or to file a labor court case. This is tremendously helpful—when workers understand their rights and know what protections and benefits they have, they work with much greater peace of mind."

When asked about existing labor laws, Madeeya explained: "The laws already exist, but many don't know their rights. For example, some don't realize whether they're signing an employment contract or a contract for services. Once people attend forums like this, they'll understand what type of arrangement they're in and can properly seek justice if disputes arise."

On urgent priorities, Madeeya said: "The most urgent issue right now is raising awareness about employment contracts. Before starting work, people should communicate via chat or phone calls, which can serve as contractual evidence. We're also developing a platform for contract templates and legal guidance. Most people complain to the association, though they could work directly with the Labor Department—we can't accompany everyone personally (laughs). People need to know their rights upfront. The problems stem from lack of contractual awareness and legal literacy—that's critical. Next is working hours, which we're pushing hard on. Film shoots currently run 14 to 16 hours daily, which still happens. I believe everyone is becoming more aware and pushing for change, but what truly helps is legal backing."

On employer accountability, Madeeya stressed: "We need dialogue first—between workers, the association, production houses, broadcasters, and capital investors. We must reach agreements, like telling employers, 'We can't sustain this workload,' and jointly establishing standards. The Labor Ministry is ready to support these efforts."