Bangkok: The Cabinet has taken a significant step in labor reform by approving four new labor laws aimed at improving the welfare and protection of seafarers, home-based workers, and state enterprise employees who identify with the marriage equality group. These newly approved measures are set to expand labor rights and promote equality in marriage rights across Thailand.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Chulaphan Vivat, the Minister of Labour, announced the Cabinet's approval of two draft laws and four labor regulations, which were proposed by the Ministry of Labour. These amendments aim to address legal gaps and extend protections to diverse groups, reflecting the evolving nature of modern employment and societal norms. The initiatives focus on three primary areas of labor welfare and rights.
The first major reform targets the welfare of seafarers, amending the Maritime Labour Act to ensure that employers enroll seafarers in social security and compensation systems. This measure guarantees access to seven types of social security benefits and protection against work-related accidents. Additionally, the amendment prohibits employing seafarers under 18 between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, except under specific lawful duties, aligning with the International Labour Organization's Maritime Labour Convention of 2006.
The second reform expands protections for home-based workers by updating the Home-Based Work Protection Act to reflect the digital age's changing work patterns. It includes online work and broadens the scope to cover industrial, commercial, agricultural, and service sectors. The amendments set a minimum working age of 15 and impose strict penalties for employing children under 15 or engaging minors and pregnant women in hazardous work. These changes aim to ensure fair compensation and impose a 15% annual interest penalty on late payment defaults.
Finally, the State Enterprise Labor Relations Committee's draft announcement seeks to harmonize state enterprise employee benefits with the equal marriage law. This ensures that all legally married couples, regardless of gender, are entitled to equal medical care, compensation, and funeral expenses. Over 12,000 people are expected to benefit from these medical benefits, underscoring the government's commitment to closing legal loopholes and enhancing welfare for all labor groups, including youth, freelancers, and married couples of all genders.
Mr. Chulaphan emphasized that these reforms represent a pivotal advancement for Thai society in recognizing human dignity and ensuring equal rights for all.