SEANF Paper on Migrant Workers
118. The SEANF recommends the Government to formally add domestic work as a
form of recognized employment under the labour laws, and urges the
Government to pay particular attention to the difficult circumstances facing
migrant domestic workers in Thailand. Among the key problems to be addressed
are the lack of employment contracts, prevalence of sexual harassment as well
as other physical and psychological abuse, failure to provide any holiday leave or
over-time pay, payment of sub-minimum wages, forced working of long
hours, seizure of worker’s identification documents, restrictions on movement
and association, and existence of child labourers working in domestic service.
119. In cases where migrant workers are considered for deportation, the SEANF
believes the Government should give prominent consideration to the principles
of human dignity and human rights of the migrant workers and ensure the
physical safety of those being returned. The Government is strongly
recommended to take all necessary steps to ensure that deportations do not
separate migrant children from their parents.
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