Effect given to the recommendations of the committee and the Governing Body - Report No 320, March 2000

Case No 1581 (Thailand) - Complaint date: 14-MAY-91 - Closed

Effect given to the recommendations of the Committee and the Governing Body

1. 83. The Committee last examined this case at its November 1999 meeting when it noted that the Senate and the House of Representatives have still not been able to agree on a draft of the State Enterprise Labour Relations Bill which has been referred to by the Government since 1993. It urged the Government to ensure that the Bill, in its final form, would be in conformity with the freedom of association principles and requested the Government to keep it informed of any developments in this regard (see 318th Report, paras. 77-79).
2. 84. In a communication dated 16 March 2000, the Government indicates that the State Enterprise Labour Relations Bill was passed by both the House and the Senate on 16 February 2000 and is now awaiting the King's assent. According to the Government, under the passed Bill, state enterprise employees will enjoy the right to organize and to bargain collectively in a manner compatible with ILO standards. In this connection, they are free to form labour unions and a labour federation. The new Bill also allows state enterprise labour unions to affiliate with private sector labour organizations. In order for this right to take effect, the provisions of the current Labour Relations Act require amendment. The amendment process is currently ongoing in Thailand's legislature.
3. 85. The Committee notes this information with interest. It trusts that this new legislation will restore fully the right to organize and to bargain collectively to state enterprise employees and requests the Government to keep it informed of developments in this respect, as well as concerns the necessary accompanying amendment to the Labour Relations Act, and to transmit a copy of the SELRA which has been adopted by the Parliament.