Yesterday, at an event for International Domestic Workers’ Day, which was June 16, workers asked the government to start enforcing the issued regulations that protect their rights.
Enforcement of these regulations would help to improve the sometimes poor working and living conditions of employees including maids and nannies.
Though the regulations promise them 30 days of paid sick leave each year and overtime pay if they are asked to work on their days off, many home employers may not be following the guidelines.
Somporn Pasomboon, of the Network of Domestic Workers in Thailand, noted that many employers don’t even know there are regulations in place, reported Bangkok Post.
Under the issuance, home employers who don’t follow the rules could be fined THB20,000-THB100,000 and face up to six months in jail.
At yesterday’s event, a group of mostly female workers spoke about the issues with their jobs. They mentioned intimidation, assault and sexual abuse at the hands of their employers.
Though the regulations protect both Thai and migrant domestic workers, the migrant home workers who spoke also mentioned being forced to surrender their passports to employers.
It was noted that abused home workers should make formal complaints with the Department of Labor Protection and Welfare. The department will protect their identity and investigate complaints with home employers.
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