BANGKOK (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO), American Center for International Labor Solidarity (ACILS), Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FIS) and the Arom Pongpangan Foundation will jointly host a workshop on the revision of Thai labour laws at the Felix River Kwai Resort in Kanchanaburi during 27-29 August 2003.

Thai trade union leaders have frequently cited an inadequacy in labour laws, and say they face a host of difficulties in carrying out day-to-day trade union activities. The Royal Thai Government is in the process of reviewing the legislation and a draft prepared by the Ministry of Labour and others prepared by different union groups are being debated and discussed.

The main focus of the workshop will be to highlight the current deficiencies in the laws, how the current laws compare with international standards, and what recommendations could be made towards the revision of the laws. A press conference will take place on Day One of the workshop.

Participants include Somsak Kosaisuk, secretary-general of the State Enterprise Workers’ Relations Confederation (SERC) and Pratueng Saengsank, president of the Labour Congress of Thailand (LCT). A working paper prepared by the Arom Pongpangan Foundation will be presented during the opening day, and copies will be available to the press.

A round-trip by van or coach to the resort has been organized for the opening day of the seminar for interested parties from the local and international media.