Assistance will be provided for JSL Global Media employees who were abruptly laid off without fair compensation, Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said on Monday.
A total of 89 of the 130 company employees were sacked on Friday, Mr Suchart said, citing information from the Bangkok Labour Protection and Welfare Office.
Each worker was offered only 16% of the financial compensation they are entitled to under the labour laws, he said.
Prime Minister Prayut-Chan-o-cha had instructed the ministry to step in to help the sacked workers, he said.
"A total of 79 laid-off workers have refused to accept the 16% compensation offered by their former employer and now are determined to fight for the full compensation," he said.
The company cited pressure from overwhelming debt as the reason for their termination, he said.
According to an informed source in JSL Global Media's human resources department, only 5 million baht was approved by the company for compensation when it actually required 31 million baht.
The department suggested that the company at least agree to pay the full sum, even if by instalments, but the company insisted on paying the reduced amount, the source said.
The minister assigned deputy permanent secretary Buppha Ruangsut to coordinate assistance for the workers. She is to meet with them and discuss their rights and what can be done to help them.
Ms Buppha said that while fighting for full compensation the workers would be assisted in submitting requests for unemployment allowances under the social security law.
"The Department of Employment, meanwhile, will help find new jobs that are very close to the type of work they did at their former workplace," she said.
Thani Sirilon, director of the Bangkok Labour Protection and Welfare Office, said a formal investigation will be conducted into the lay-offs and JSL management will be invited in for questioning this week.
Mr Thani warned that if the company insists on not paying full compensation, the office would seek legal action against the employer in a criminal case.
