On September 20, 2019, at 09.30 hours, Permanent Secretary of Labour Labour Mr. Suthi Sukosol assigned Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour Mrs. Phattana Phanfak to give opening remarks at the second National Advisory Board meeting on “Safe and Fair: Realizing women migrant workers’ rights and opportunities”, which took place at the Pullman King Power, Bangkok. Pirkka Tapiola, European Union Ambassador to Thailand, Dana Ladek, Acting UN Correspondent for Thailand, Graeme Buckley, ILO Chief for Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, Melissa Alvarado, Ending Violence Against Women Programme Manager from UN Women in Asia-Pacific, Project Manager Deepa Partee, representatives of employers, employees and civil society also attended the meeting.
The Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour said that the Safe & Fair program is part of the Spotlight Initiative. It aims to eliminate violence against women and children, with a focus on gender-sensitive women migrants and human trafficking. The project’s operations align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); the 5th goal is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. It is based on a conceptual view of development as dimensions of the economy, society, and environment, to be connected and end discrimination, eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls, including human trafficking, sexual acts and other forms of exploitation. The objectives of the project are consistent with the policies of the Thai government, with a focus on prevention and resolution to human trafficking. This is seen from the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2560, which emphasizes gender equality and protection of children’s rights. In addition, is the Thai government’s policy on the protection of Thai and foreign workers to have a good quality of life, especially sensitive labour groups. The government has worked with the ILO, including the tripartite networks, to establish a Decent Work Country Program (DWCP).
“The cooperation of every committee will contribute to supporting the Thai government’s initiatives in understanding underlying problems and limitations faced by migrant women. It will promote understanding and an attitude of recognizing the rights, experiences, and values of female migrant workers, in compliance with international standards, which will develop work to protect international and domestic women and children from migrant workers. This will lead to valuable work for everyone,” concluded the Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour.
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Division of Public Relations/Inormation & photos by Bureau of International Cooperation/
20 September 2019
