Partnerships
Partnerships between governments, employers the workers are an essential part of how ILO operates. In fact, ILO is the only tripartite U.N. agency with government, employer, and worker representatives. This tripartite structure makes the ILO a unique forum in which the governments and the social partners of the economy of its 185 Member States can freely and openly debate and elaborate labour standards and policies. This project adheres to ILO’s tripartite approach in all of its activities from inception to implementation.
In terms of impacts on legislative frameworks, the economic environment and practical mechanisms such as labour inspections the project’s most significant partners are often found within the Thai government and its various departments. Together with the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare and the Department of Fisheries the project is able to generate the much needed impact on the ground level alongside more long-term positive changes in the industry itself.
As one of the three constituents of the ILO, employers' organizations have a special relationship with the Organization.
Employers’ organizations are a critical component of any social dialogue process, which can help to ensure that national social and economic objectives are properly and effectively formulated and enjoy wide support among the business community which they represent. Without the participation and buy-in of the private sector these changes and impacts would prove to be short lived however. Thus, the project is actively engaged with employer’s unions and various industry associations.
Trade unions are key civil society institutions which represent the workers in the tripartite ILO constellation. The project is deeply involved with various civil society organizations, non-government entities and with the workers themselves to ensure delivery of the projects objectives.
Key partners
In terms of impacts on legislative frameworks, the economic environment and practical mechanisms such as labour inspections the project’s most significant partners are often found within the Thai government and its various departments. Together with the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare and the Department of Fisheries the project is able to generate the much needed impact on the ground level alongside more long-term positive changes in the industry itself.
As one of the three constituents of the ILO, employers' organizations have a special relationship with the Organization.
Employers’ organizations are a critical component of any social dialogue process, which can help to ensure that national social and economic objectives are properly and effectively formulated and enjoy wide support among the business community which they represent. Without the participation and buy-in of the private sector these changes and impacts would prove to be short lived however. Thus, the project is actively engaged with employer’s unions and various industry associations.
Trade unions are key civil society institutions which represent the workers in the tripartite ILO constellation. The project is deeply involved with various civil society organizations, non-government entities and with the workers themselves to ensure delivery of the projects objectives.
Key partners
- The Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DLPW) under the Ministry of Labour is a central partner of ILO-IPEC in Thailand. DLPW has the mandate to establish and develop labour standards, monitor compliance with Thai labour laws, prevent and resolve labour disputes, protect workers from harm and provide guidelines on improvement of working conditions and the working environment.
- The Department of Fisheries (DOF) operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and it is mandated to develop sustainable management of fisheries and to promote sustainable utilization of aquatic resources. DOF observes shrimp and seafood processing industry processes for compliance with various standards such as, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACP). DOF has also introduced several industry guidelines such as, Industry Code of Conduct (CoC) in 1998 and Good Aquaculture Practice Standard (GAP) in 2000. The latter has been benchmarked successfully against the FAO Aquaculture Certification Guidelines.
- The Employers’ Confederation of Thailand (ECOT) was established on 23August, 1976. Today ECOT comprises of ten employers’ associations and employers’ federations, including the Thai Construction Employers' Association, the Ship Owners Employers' Association of Thailand and the Steel Business Employers' Association.
- Thai Frozen Foods Association (TFFA) is a private non-profit organization founded in 1968 under the Thai Trade Association Act. TFFA was originally established as the Thai Marine Products Association. Thereafter, it operated under the name of Thai Fishery and Frozen Products Association since 1983 to cover the frozen products industry till 1994 when the present name was adopted. TFFA is steered by Directors elected from within its member-base which is comprised of more than 200 companies that deal with processing and exporting of frozen foods.
- The Thai Food Processors Association (TFPA) was established in 1970 as a private non-profit organization designed to strengthen the food processing industry in Thailand. The Association currently serves nearly 200 members ranging from small to large companies. TFPA is run by a Board of Directors elected for a two year-term from its members. The Association also plays a supporting and advisory role in setting up both domestic food regulations and international food standards.
- Trade Unions in Thailand play an important role in addressing child labor, forced labour and combating discrimination at work including discrimination concerning migrant workers. In Thailand National Trade Union federations have a key role to pay in advocating for stronger protection for workers and have been instrumental in advancing and promoting legislative changes for better protection of workers, and broad understanding and application of fundamental principles and rights at work, including the right concerning the elimination of child labour.
- NGOs and the Civil Society. The ILO-IPEC project addressing child labour in the shrimp and seafood industry in Thailand cooperates with several well-established Thai NGOs and civil society organizations which have proven and unique ability to effectively provide direct services to vulnerable Thai and migrant communities while at the same time having the necessary capacity to support policy making.