The Thai government has warned that it will take tough action against violent protests after hundreds of workers clashed with police near the capital, Bangkok. The workers have blocked a main road into the capital in a dispute with their employers over bonus payments. As Enver Solomon reports from Bangkok, it is the first incident of unrest since the economic crisis began nearly a year ago.

When Thailand's economy began to falter last year, it was the office workers in the debt-ridden finance sector who were the first to suffer. Many of them had prospered during the boom years.

They were left stunned by their sudden loss of wealth and took to the streets. Their peaceful protest forced the Prime Minister to resign.

But now the government is facing a different kind of unrest.

This time it's from the thousands of manual workers who are either facing redundancy or being forced to take pay cuts.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, violence erupted on the outskirts of Bangkok when police moved in to disperse about a thousand disgruntled factory workers.

They had been blocking a main route out of the capital after their company said it would effectively cut their wages by reducing bonus payments.

More than 50 workers were arrested. It's the first time since the economic downturn that the country has witnessed violent protests.

The government has warned the nation that any further incidents will not be tolerated. As the recession has deepened, it's become extremely concerned about the possibility of social unrest and has been urging Thais to unite to help the economy.