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26 October, 2011More than ten thousand workers gathered on October 7 in the busy streets of Bangkok to demand workers' rights and decent work.
To commemorate the World Day for Decent Work, thousands of workers gathered outside the United Nations building in Bangkok which houses the ILO Office to demand the ratification of ILO Conventions 87 & 98, minimum wage of BHT 300.00/day (USD 10.00) and decent work. In a riot of colours, banners and placards Thai workers rose to the occasion to protest the government's lackadaisical attitude towards workers rights and wage increases. They chanted slogans, sang songs and several speakers from the unions took turns to address the crowd on their demand to ratify the core ILO conventions, respect workers rights and raise the minimum wage.
The demonstration and march led by the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee (TLSC) which is a coalition of several unions and federations moved from the UN building and headed towards the Government house. Most of the GUF affiliates in Thailand participated in this march.
Chalee Loysong, President of IMF affiliate TEAM and TLSC reiterated that the Thai union movement would not back down from its demands. He stressed that this demonstration was larger than the one held last year, an indication that workers are realising the importance of their rights and the need to demand decent work. He called upon the government to ratify the universally recognised ILO Conventions 87 & 98 without any further delay. He also spoke on the need for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawat to honour her promises to raise the minimum wage to BTH 300.00 made during the recently concluded national election.
Thailand, a founding member of the ILO, has not ratified ILO Convention 87 & 98.