ILO-Thai Trade Unions Meeting on Trade Unions Agenda for Decent Work in Thailand
The meeting on 17 May 2016 seeks to bring together all major union confederations/federations to take stock of Thailand’s labour situation, understand key issues facing unions and how ILO can assist unions to promote Decent Work for workers in Thailand. It will also be an occasion to update Thai Labour Unions on the forthcoming International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva an important agenda of which is the discussion on decent work in global supply chains.will also be an occasion to update Thai Labour Unions on the forthcoming International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva an important agenda of which is the discussion on decent work in global supply chains.
Background:
Thailand is an export-reliant, middle-income country with low wage workers. In recent years, political changes and uncertainty combined with slowdown in global economy & declining investments, have posed a number of development challenges. Economic growth has slowed in the past three years, and income inequality remains high compared to other Asian countries. A majority of workers are still informally employed, with little or no labour protection. On the labour market front, it also faces labour shortages and depends significantly on migrant workers whose conditions of work need major improvements. In other words, growth has not led to decent work for most workers.
At the same time, a number of challenges face unions on Industrial relations front such as - anti-union discrimination and denial of rights to organize and collective bargaining (reflected also in the cases filed with ILO’s Committee on Freedom of Association), violations of minimum wages regulations, working hours, discriminatory practices in regard to migrant workers, outsourcing of labour, privatisation in public sector, lack of social dialogue & declining effectiveness of tripartite bodies in addressing labour policy issues, to name just few of the problems.
To meet its development challenges, Thailand needs to pursue inclusive growth policies. The country needs not only greater public & private investments, improvements in public services and policies that stimulate domestic consumption but also better labour standards and enforcement of labour laws. It is not just a matter of workers’ rights, but also one of the major means for promoting inclusive growth. Freedom of Association, the Right to Collective Bargaining and Social Security help in addressing the crisis of distributive justice and assist in promoting Decent Work in the economy. It is also important that the trade unions come together for united voice and coordinated actions to promote growth and decent jobs along with measures to promote respect for core labour standards.
The meeting will focus on following main issues:
1. Key employment and labour challenges facing Trade Unions
2. Trade Unions Agenda for Decent Work in Thailand, and follow up actions
Participants:
• Representatives of the National Confederations and major union groups;
Key Issues for Discussion:
• What are the key challenges facing unions in Thailand in regard to FoA, Collective bargaining, Social Dialogue & Tripartism?
• What are the main factors preventing unions from playing effective role in workers representation, dispute resolution & collective bargaining?
• What are the main difficulties faced in organizing workers into unions?
• Specific issues facing women workers?
• Situation of migrant workers?
• What are the strengths & weaknesses of TUs in Thailand?
• What are the main priorities of trade unions in Thailand?
Thailand is an export-reliant, middle-income country with low wage workers. In recent years, political changes and uncertainty combined with slowdown in global economy & declining investments, have posed a number of development challenges. Economic growth has slowed in the past three years, and income inequality remains high compared to other Asian countries. A majority of workers are still informally employed, with little or no labour protection. On the labour market front, it also faces labour shortages and depends significantly on migrant workers whose conditions of work need major improvements. In other words, growth has not led to decent work for most workers.
At the same time, a number of challenges face unions on Industrial relations front such as - anti-union discrimination and denial of rights to organize and collective bargaining (reflected also in the cases filed with ILO’s Committee on Freedom of Association), violations of minimum wages regulations, working hours, discriminatory practices in regard to migrant workers, outsourcing of labour, privatisation in public sector, lack of social dialogue & declining effectiveness of tripartite bodies in addressing labour policy issues, to name just few of the problems.
To meet its development challenges, Thailand needs to pursue inclusive growth policies. The country needs not only greater public & private investments, improvements in public services and policies that stimulate domestic consumption but also better labour standards and enforcement of labour laws. It is not just a matter of workers’ rights, but also one of the major means for promoting inclusive growth. Freedom of Association, the Right to Collective Bargaining and Social Security help in addressing the crisis of distributive justice and assist in promoting Decent Work in the economy. It is also important that the trade unions come together for united voice and coordinated actions to promote growth and decent jobs along with measures to promote respect for core labour standards.
The meeting will focus on following main issues:
1. Key employment and labour challenges facing Trade Unions
2. Trade Unions Agenda for Decent Work in Thailand, and follow up actions
Participants:
• Representatives of the National Confederations and major union groups;
Key Issues for Discussion:
• What are the key challenges facing unions in Thailand in regard to FoA, Collective bargaining, Social Dialogue & Tripartism?
• What are the main factors preventing unions from playing effective role in workers representation, dispute resolution & collective bargaining?
• What are the main difficulties faced in organizing workers into unions?
• Specific issues facing women workers?
• Situation of migrant workers?
• What are the strengths & weaknesses of TUs in Thailand?
• What are the main priorities of trade unions in Thailand?