Labor Standards in Global Trade Law and Their Impacts on Thai Textile Entrepreneurs under the Measures of the United States and the European Union

Abstract

Thailand’s textile and apparel industry is facing structural changes in global trade regulation, shifting from tariff and quota measures toward non-tariff barriers, particularly labor standards imposed by the United States and the European Union as conditions for market access. As a result, Thai entrepreneurs are required to adapt to labor regulations, human rights requirements, and supply chain traceability systems. These challenges particularly affect small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which face limitations in capital, technology, and expertise. This research aims to examine (1) the impacts of labor standards on Thai textile entrepreneurs, (2) the adaptation process and obstacles in complying with labor standards imposed by importing countries, and (3) approaches for developing Thai labor standards toward international standards. The study employs documentary research using secondary data, including international laws, reports from international organizations, academic studies, scholarly articles, and relevant legal documents. The collected data were analyzed qualitatively through legal interpretation and comparative legal analysis. The findings reveal that labor standards have evolved into global trade regulatory measures in the form of Non-Product Related Process and Production Methods (NPR-PPMs), resulting in increased compliance costs for Thai entrepreneurs in areas such as labor conditions, traceability systems, and international certification standards. SMEs are the most affected due to their limited resources and technological capacity. In addition, Thailand continues to face structural constraints because it has not yet ratified ILO Conventions No. 87 and No. 98. This study proposes that Thailand should accelerate labor law reform in accordance with international standards, establish a support committee for SMEs in developing traceability systems and labor certification mechanisms, and promote a national labor standard under the concept of Thai Green Labor in order to enhance the credibility of Thai products and maintain competitiveness in the global market.