Thailand becomes member of ILO Convention on Discrimination

On 13 June 2017, Thai envoy to UN in Geneva Ambasssador Sek Wannamethee and Minister of Labor General Sirichai Distakul deposited instrument of ratification of ILO Convention No. 111 on Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) to Mr. Guy Ryder, Director-General of ILO, reassuring Thailand’s commitments in protecting persons from all forms of discrimination in employment.  Effective on 13 June 2018, it is 17^th ILO Convention Thailand has ratified so far.

The Convention now ratified by 175 countries is one of the eight ILO fundamental conventions on the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation, requiring member States to promulgate legislation that prohibits all forms of discrimination and exclusion on basis of race, color, sex, religion, political opinion, etc.  Ratification is in line with Thailand’s commitment to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and reflects in SDGs no. 5, 8, and 10 seeking to promote gender equality, decent work and economic growth, and to reduce inequalities.

High on agenda, Thailand continues to promote non-discrimination thanks to the new Constitution B.E.2560 (2017) and other laws including the Gender Equality Act B.E. 2558 (2015) which enhances the promotion of non – discrimination with larger scopes than those required by the Convention as the Act also includes matters of age, person with disabilities, and undocumented migrants.

Photo courtesy of http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/news3/6886/78580-Thailand%E2%80%99s-Ratification-of-ILO-Convention-No.-111.html