Support for national action to combat child labour and its worst forms in Thailand

Child labour in Thailand Thailand has made considerable progress over the last two decades in reducing child labour. But increasing demand for cheap, migrant labour from surrounding nations (Myanmar, Lao PDR, Cambodia) has led to increased migrant child labour. Along with the remaining significant pockets of Thai child labour (some poor rural employment, under-privileged urban and rural children, ethnic minorities in the North), this creates a persistent problem. Despite a growing economy, stable population, and good access to basic education, the problem is likely to persist in some form, partly because the economic gap between Thailand and its neighbours is expected to persist. Child labour predominates in informal businesses across the economy, including industry, agriculture, fishing, and services including domestic work. Worst forms of child labour are also to be found in a range of sectors. Although conditions are in general better than in some poorer countries, abuses are in some cases extreme. Bonded practices, restriction of movement, withholding of wages, dangerous or physically damaging work, exposure to social vices, under-payment, excessive working hours, exposure to unsafe chemicals, lack of provision for education or vocational training, limited health care access, all contribute to the child labour situation. Information availability: a summary of findings from research used in the development of this project Available information is not complete, but data including research commissioned by ILO and used in the preparation of this project provides a sufficient baseline A very high proportion of all the child labourers were exposed to hazardous working conditions such as; dust and smoke (40%), noise (26%), chemical substances (26%) and ‘moral harms’ (15%). Furthermore, many children faced various forms of abuse by employers such as; physical confinement (15%), physical punishment (8%), general harassment (20%), sexual harassment (7%), rape (1%) and verbal humiliation (15%). In general, child labours were paid less than adults even if they carried out the same tasks. Half of the child labourers surveyed were paid less than 2000 Baht per month (less than 50$). This is roughly half of the daily legal minimum wage in Thailand. Based on criteria such as: age, working hours, hazardous working environment and various forms of abuse and exploitation, as many as 44% of the child labourers could be categorised as being in WFCL. The highest percentage of children in the WFCL was found in the following sectors; begging (100% of children in this sector), domestic labourers (72%), service sector e.g. karaoke bars etc. (49%) and agriculture (40%). Vulnerability to WFCL is closely related to vulnerability including issues of gender, nationality/ethnicity and migrant status. The majority of children in WFCL were non-Thai or migrant children from neighbouring countries, mainly Burma (67%) while only 16% of the Thai children were found in this category. Furthermore, only 34% of the children in WFCL were in possession of personal documents as compared to 69% of the children in non-WFCL. In terms of gender, 46% of all girls surveyed, and 40% of all boys, were in WFCL. The majority of them did not have basic education. Government policy and action The legal and policy framework for child labour and WFCL is comprehensive. Nonetheless, improvements can be made on specific issues. Thailand ratified ILO Conventions No. 182 in 2001, and No. 138 in 2004. Positive aspects of law and policies include: compulsory schooling to age 15; cheap basic health care; strict limits on work for 15-17 year olds; agreements with neighbouring countries on regularising migration and tackling trafficking; and a cabinet resolution to extend education to all children in Thailand regardless of nationality. However, in reality considerable progress needs to be made before these policies and laws are fully implemented. Regulation and inspection

Project symbol

THA/06/50/USA

Admin unit

DWT-Bangkok

Start date

30/09/2006

End date

15/06/2011

Total allocation

3747698

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

3747698

Development Partners

USA, United States Department of Labor, Bureau for International Labor Affairs, Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking

Country/Countries

Thailand

Outcomes

Child Labour