Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

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

Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention. Private sector. The Government previously indicated that the Thai Labour Standards (TLS) 8001-2003 state that employers must not engage in or support any discrimination in employment, wage and remuneration payment, labour welfare provision, opportunities for training and development, promotion, termination of employment or retirement. The Committee notes however that again no information has been provided by the Government on compliance with standards related to non-discrimination and remuneration and recalls it previous comments noting the need for appropriate training for employers and employees on the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. With regard to the TLS 8001-2003, the Committee urges the Government to provide information on the practical application of the TLS (8001-2003) standards related to equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. Please also indicate whether any activities, including training, have been organized in the private sector, such as to promote job evaluation and to provide a better understanding of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value.

Gender pay gap. The Committee recalls its previous comments which referred to the underrepresentation of female ordinary civil servants at the executive, and occupational gender segregation as a main cause of the gender pay gap. The Committee notes that the Eleventh National Economic and Social Development Plan (2012–16) acknowledges that more opportunities should be given to women for career advancement toward managerial and decision- making positions at both local and national levels in the public and private sectors. The Plan also refers to the need to develop laws and regulations to prevent discrimination against women and to amend legislation to allow the appointment for more women to local and national committees. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the following:

• (i) the measures taken under the Eleventh National Economic and Social Development Plan to improve women’s access to decision-making and management positions, and their impact on reducing the gender pay gap; and
• (ii) statistical data disaggregated by sex on the participation of men and women in different occupations and sectors of activity in the public and private sectors.

Article 4. Cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Committee previously noted that in the private sector, in order to follow up on the application of the labour laws, the adoption of a workplace policy and the implementation of TLS 8001-2003, committees comprised of representatives of employers and employees were set up within the workplace. Noting the absence of additional information on this point, the Committee once again asks the Government to provide information on the following:

• (i) the number of committees set up in order to follow up the workplace policy and how they ensure and monitor the implementation of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value;
• (ii) how the Labour Welfare Committee as well as the welfare committees at the enterprise level are in practice promoting equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value; and
• (iii) whether any collective agreements explicitly providing for equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value have been concluded, and if so please forward copies of such agreements.

Enforcement. The Committee recalls the many training activities conducted in respect of ILO Standards, as well as the training to enhance practical skills on labour protection and labour law enforcement. The Committee once again asks the Government to provide specific information on how these training activities have contributed to increasing awareness of labour inspectors on the issue of equal remuneration for work of equal value, and assisted them in better detecting and addressing violations of the principle of the Convention. Please provide additional information concerning labour inspection activities that have occurred such as the number of written orders delivered to employers and any proceedings that have followed these orders delivered under sections 15 and 53 of the Labour protection Act.