Thai Group Appeals to UN Against Reports of Worker Rights Violations
PUBLISHED: 1 Feb 2025 at 16:52
A Thai activist network has urged the United Nations to deny requests from a collective of Myanmar workers in Thailand aimed at improving conditions for migrant laborers.
Akkhrawut Kraisisombat and Arnon Klinkaew, leaders of the Thai People Protecting the Monarchy group, joined protesters outside the UN offices in Bangkok to express their opposition to the workers’ group, Bright Future.
Bright Future recently submitted a petition to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, calling for enhanced protections and better working conditions for foreign workers, alongside an appeal for condemnation of Myanmar’s upcoming general elections scheduled for later this year.
On Friday, Myanmar’s defense and security council prolonged a state of emergency by an additional six months, continuing to delay the long-anticipated elections amidst ongoing civil unrest following the military coup four years ago.
Akkhrawut emphasized the significance of the protest, noting that the presence of undocumented foreign workers is becoming an urgent concern for Thai citizens. He referenced demands for an increase in the minimum wage for migrants to between 600-700 baht, contrasting with the maximum wage of 400 baht for Thai workers. He also raised alarms about escalating crime rates linked to foreign criminal syndicates.
He asserted that Bright Future, led by activist Weera Saengthong, should focus on resolving issues within Myanmar rather than seeking international intervention.
Although no dialogue took place between the protestors and representatives from Bright Future during the demonstration, Akkhrawut declared their unwavering stance against what he termed “the oppression of the Thai people.”
