Responsible and Inclusive Supply Chains for Migrant Workers in Thailand (RISC-Migrant)

About RISC-Migrant

Migrant workers are integral to Thailand’s rubber sector, particularly in its upstream segments such as natural rubber plantations and initial processing and manufacturing. Despite their essential contributions, many face persistent decent work deficits, limited access to social and labour protection, and exclusion from skill development opportunities. These vulnerabilities are often more pronounced in the lower tiers of supply chains, where oversight is weaker and formal social and labour protections are less established and institutionalized.

Building on the ILO’s experience in the automotive sector in Thailand – where supply chain leverage can be used to improve conditions for upstream workers – this project focus on migrant workers engaged in lower-tiers economic activities in the rubber industry, especially those supplying key components for auto parts, including tires. With global buyers and suppliers increasingly expected to promote responsible business conduct, the project engages multiple actors across the supply chain to ensure that migrant workers are not left behind.

To address the issues unique for migrant workers and amplify the decent work outcomes, this Project will address 3 pillars as a package: social protection, skill development, and responsible business conduct (RBC).

Outcomes

1. Strengthen social protection for migrant workers in the rubber sector by strengthening enforcement and supporting access to health care, injury insurance, and maternity or unemployment benefits through the Social Security Fund (SSF) and the Workmen’s Compensation Fund (WCF).
2. Increase access to skill development by identifying training needs and equip migrant workers with essential skills for work, including basic labour rights and leadership/negotiation skills.
3. Promote RBC in labour dimension across the rubber supply chain by encouraging human rights due diligence, supporting grievance mechanisms, and fostering meaningful social dialogues, especially for employers in rubber plantations and initial processers and manufacturers.

By the end of the project, participating businesses will have more inclusive policies and processes, migrant workers will benefit from improved access to social and labour protections and skill development opportunities, and supply chain actors will be better equipped to support decent work outcomes for migrant workers.

Target beneficiaries

• Migrant workers in the Thai rubber sector, particularly in natural rubber plantations and processing and manufacturing factories.
• Enterprises in the Thai rubber supply chain, including smallholders, processors, manufacturers, and exporters.
• Policymakers engaged in labour law enforcement, social protection, and skills policy.

Partners

• Worker’s organization (State Enterprises Workers’ Relation Confederation Foundation: SERC Foundation)
• Employers’ organization (Employers’ Confederation of Thailand: ECOT)
• Government (Ministry of Labour including Social Security Office and Department of Labour Protection and Welfare)