ILO Seminar Reaching Out to Thailand's Home-based Workers

ILO seminar aims at develop a safety and health action plan for Thai home-based workers.

Press release | BANGKOK | 23 April 2001

BANGKOK (ILO News) - Home-based workers in five provinces of Thailand (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Payao and Sakhon Nakorn), many toiling in hazardous conditions, are the targets of a safety and health action plan to be developed at an ILO seminar in Bangkok on Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 April.

The seminar, the first of its kind in Thailand, will bring together some 50 participants from the Thai Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MOLSW), the Ministry of Public Health, other government institutions, employers’ and workers’ and home workers’ organizations to map out the action plan, which is expected to be implemented in selected provinces.

The meeting builds on earlier efforts. MOLSW is working to develop occupational safety and health legislation covering homeworkers and has published an OSH training manual for home-based workers. The Ministry’s office of home-based workers recently opened pilot offices in 10 provinces. Talks are underway to improve coordination between government and non-government organizations. Other key issues including training for home-based workers, and providing easier access to information.

Although research in the field is still limited, estimates put the number of home-based workers in Thailand at 1 million, most of whom are women with limited education. Through its ASIA-OSH programme, funded by the Government of Finland, and its regular budget activities, the ILO is actively involved in promoting occupational safety and health throughout the Asia-Pacific region.