Thai Gov Overhauls 4 Labor Laws for Increased Worker Protection

MGR Online•Politics•4d ago

Reader Briefing

The Thai Cabinet has approved the overhaul of four labor laws to expand social security and benefits for seafarers, home workers, and spouses of state enterprise employees.

•The Cabinet approved four draft laws and criteria proposed by the Ministry of Labour on August 18.
•Seafarers will now have direct access to social security and compensation funds.
•Home workers will receive increased protections, including minimum age requirements and penalty clauses for unpaid wages.
•Spouses of state enterprise employees will receive equal benefits regardless of gender.

Overview

•The Ministry of Labour proposed four sets of laws and criteria to the Cabinet to increase protections for specific worker groups.
•The Cabinet approved the draft Maritime Labour Act (No. ..) B.E. ... to place seafarers under direct social security and compensation laws.
•Seafarers will access seven social security cases, including sickness, maternity, disability, death, child allowance, old age, and unemployment.
•The Maritime Labour Act prohibits ship owners from employing persons under 18 years old between 22:00 and 06:00, except for training or necessary duties.
•The draft Act on Protection of Home Workers (No. ..) B.E. ... sets the minimum age for home workers at 15 years.
•Employers who fail to return guarantees or pay home workers without reasonable cause must pay interest and a surcharge of 15 percent per year.
•Two draft notifications from the State Enterprise Labor Relations Committee change the term 'husband or wife' to 'spouse' to align with equal marriage laws.
•It is estimated that between 2026 and 2030, approximately 11,064 to 12,021 additional spouses will receive medical treatment benefits.

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Key Quotes

Captain Patdarasmi Thongsualokorn

"All of this is to ensure labor protection reaches workers in all areas and formats, whether working on ships, at home, or in state enterprises."

ทั้งหมดคือการทำให้การคุ้มครองแรงงานเข้าถึงคนทำงานในทุกพื้นที่และทุกรูปแบบ ไม่ว่าจะทำงานบนเรือ ที่บ้าน หรือในรัฐวิสาหกิจ

Key Entities

Person

Captain Patdarasmi Thongsualokorn(ร้อยเอกหญิง ภัทร์ดารัสมิ์ ทองสลวยกร)

Deputy Government Spokesperson who revealed the government's progress on labor law amendments.

Organization

Ministry of Labour(กระทรวงแรงงาน)ℹ️

The ministry that proposed the four sets of labor law amendments and criteria.

Cabinet(คณะรัฐมนตรี)

The body that approved the draft laws and criteria regarding labor rights.

Office of the Council of State(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา)ℹ️

The office that reviewed the draft Maritime Labour Act.

International Labour Organization(องค์การแรงงานระหว่างประเทศ)ℹ️

The organization whose 2006 Maritime Labour Convention serves as a standard for protecting seafarers.

State Enterprise Labor Relations Committee(คณะกรรมการแรงงานรัฐวิสาหกิจสัมพันธ์)

The committee that issued draft notifications to adjust benefits for spouses of state enterprise employees.

Law

Maritime Labour Act(พระราชบัญญัติแรงงานทางทะเล)

Law being amended to integrate seafarers into the social security and compensation systems.

Act on Protection of Home Workers(พระราชบัญญัติคุ้มครองผู้รับงานไปทำที่บ้าน)

Law being amended to cover online work and increase protections for home workers.

Equal Marriage Law(กฎหมายสมรสเท่าเทียม)

The law that serves as the basis for expanding benefits to spouses of state enterprise employees regardless of gender.