Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Thailand (Ratification: 1999)

The Committee notes the comments of the National Congress of Thai Labour (NCTL).

Article 1(b) of the Convention. Work of equal value. The Committee notes that the Government states in very general terms that sections 15 and 53 of the Labour Protection Act (LPA), protect men and women in conformity with the principle of the Convention. The Committee recalls its previous comments in which it urged the Government to amend section 53 of the LPA in order to ensure that legislation provides for equal remuneration for men and women not only for equal, the same or similar work, but also for different work which is nevertheless of equal value. The Committee notes that the Government has not taken any steps to amend section 53 of the LPA. The Committee recalls that provisions that are narrower than the principle laid down in the Convention hinder progress in eradicating gender-based pay discrimination, because they do not reflect the concept of “work of equal value”. The Committee notes however that the Government plans to conduct a study on the understanding of the principle of the Convention and has taken steps to improve awareness of the concept of “equal remuneration for work of equal value” through publicising the Committee’s general observation of 2006. The Committee again urges the Government to take the necessary steps to amend section 53 of the LPA in order to include the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value explicitly. Please also provide information on the results achieved through the study and the activities undertaken to publicise the principle of the Convention.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.