BANGKOK, Thailand – The Cabinet has approved four labor measures covering seafarers, home-based workers, and state enterprise employees, expanding workplace protections and aligning spousal benefits with the country’s marriage equality law. Labour Minister Julapun Amornvivat reported on August 18 that proposed maritime labor amendments would require employers to enroll seafarers directly in social security and workers’ compensation programs. The legislation would also prohibit seafarers under 18 from working between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., except for certain training or duties permitted by law.
Changes to home-worker protections would extend coverage to jobs obtained through online platforms and across industrial, commercial, agricultural, and service sectors. The minimum working age would be 15, with hazardous work prohibited for those under 18 and pregnant workers. Hiring children under 15 could carry up to two years in prison and fines of 400,000 to 800,000 baht. The amendments also introduce fair-pay provisions and penalties for certain delayed payments. Another change would give legally recognized spouses of state enterprise employees equal access to medical, compensation, and funeral benefits regardless of gender. The Labor Ministry estimates that more than 12,000 people could gain expanded medical benefits under the revised rules. (NNT)
