Pattaya vendors protest daily fines and increased operating days

Vendors from the Thepprasit area market have petitioned the Pattaya City Mayor, claiming unfair treatment by the market owner. They face a daily fine of 1,000 baht for non-attendance and an extension of operating days from three days to daily.

A group of vendors from the Thepprasit area market approached Pattaya City Hall, seeking justice from the Mayor of Pattaya. They reported that new regulations imposed by the market owner were adversely affecting them. Wuttisak Ruemkijjagarn and Kritsana Boonsawat, the Deputy Mayor, attended to the vendors’ grievances.

Pattaya City has tasked its legal department, responsible for consumer protection, with listening to the issue and providing legal advice. The vendors presented four main demands and grievances.

Firstly, the market has implemented a rule fining vendors who do not sell their products daily, amounting to 1,000 baht per day. Vendors argue this measure is unfair as they already rent the space weekly, and there might be unavoidable reasons forcing them to miss a day.

Secondly, the market has extended its opening days from three days to every day without adjusting the rental fees accordingly. Vendors are calling for rental fees to be reconsidered to reflect the increase in operating days.

Thirdly, selling daily has reduced their sales as the market deals in luxury goods, unlike fresh markets that attract daily customers. The vendors argue that the current setup leads to fewer sales per day due to the nature of their products.

Lastly, if the market insists on operating seven days a week, vendors are willing to comply but request that only Thursday be added. They want all zones to be open, mirroring the setup on full-stream days, reported KhaoSod.

A vendor representative stated that previous attempts to negotiate with the market owner had failed. They have tried contacting the owner four times but only met with representatives and managers without decision-making power. The vendors are hopeful that Pattaya City will mediate and find a fair resolution.

The involvement of Pattaya City’s Mayor is now crucial in resolving this dispute. The city’s legal department’s role in providing advice and facilitating negotiations could help bridge the gap between the vendors and the market owner. By acting as a mediator, the city has an opportunity to support local businesses and ensure fair practices within the market.