The 2019 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report found that Thailand still is not making enough efforts to combat human trafficking across its borders.

Despite the finding, the US State Department study found that Thailand had improved its overall efforts, even if it wasn’t a sufficient change.

For that reason, Thailand maintained its Tier 2 ranking–the same ranking they held in 2018’s version of the report.

The report focuses on the measures and effectiveness of countries in identifying victims, the punishment of caught traffickers, and the overall techniques and strategies being used to combat the problem of human trafficking.

In Thailand, the report found that for the first time the Thai government was using labor inspectors to find victims of human trafficking and labor abuse.

Thailand business attorneys note that a failure to move up to Tier 1 most likely was due to the inability to end the corruption and complicity of officials who aid and abet traffickers as well as the failure to identify victims on a consistent basis.

In 2014, Thailand was ranked in the 3rd Tier. Last year, it received a bump to Tier 2.

Read the full story here.

Cambodian manufactured garments which play a major role in supplying clothing to western shopping malls are having trouble with their workers fainting en mass. The Global Post  reports that the fainting may be caused by bad diet, long working hours, poor ventilation, and toxic fumes.

The latest reported incident occurred earlier this month, in a factory which supplies Puma Sportswear.

Government statistics suggest that, since 2011, between 1,500 and 2,000 Cambodian factory workers have fainted each year — often in groups of 100 or more.

 Thailand Attorneys specializing in Thailand Employment Law can assist with unfair dismissal and workplace accidents  

The International Labor Organization has looked into the causes of fainting episodes. European labor rights activists have fainted on floors at H&M, Levi’s and Gap in protest.

Union rallies are planned for later this month to try and secure a national monthly wage for garment workers.

Read the full report here

Thailand’s employment laws are governed by the Department of Labor, Protection and Welfare.

If you are a foreigner working for a Thai company it is important to familiarize yourself with the regulations. They are probably very different to labor and employment laws in your home country.

Employment in Thailand may be terminated for a variety of reasons, including the following:

• Completion of agreed  work
• Expiration of a fixed term contract
• Mutual agreement
• Employment being transferred to a third party, without agreement of employee
• Gross misconduct

Examples of gross misconduct include:

• Dishonestly performing duties
• Intentionally committing an act of crime against their employer
• Intentionally causing harm to their employer
• Gross negligence causing serious harm to the employer
• Violating rules at the place of employment for which a previous written warning has been provided to the employee
• Neglect of the employee’s work duties for three consecutive days without any justification
• Being sentenced to imprisonment, exceptions made for petty offenses and offenses stemming from negligent acts.

An employee is entitled to severance pay once that they have completed at least 120 days of employment. More details can be found on the Department of Labor, Protection and Welfare website.

Severance is not payable when a fixed term contract comes to an end, if employment is terminated for gross misconduct, or if the employee resigns.

Severance pay is available for both Thai citizens and foreigners that have had their employment terminated. Termination of employment will create additional issues for foreign nationals with their work permit and their visa.

Relevant Video:   

Related Documents: Thailand Labour Law

                                                   Thailand Provident Fund

                                                   Thailand Social Security Act

 

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