Protection of Migrant Workers in Thailand According to Laws on Human Rights and Labour Rights

Abstract

This Dissertation is aiming at verifying whether migrant workers are protected by international law on human rights and labour rights. It discovers that migrant workers are protected by international law on human rights and labour rights under the United Nations Organization (UN) and the International labour organization (ILO). They are entitled to all the rights and freedom set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) without distinction of any kind, such as the right to life, liberty, security, work, just and favourable conditions of works, equal pay for equal work, freedom of movement, peaceful assembly and association, form and join trade unions. In 1990, the UN adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICRMW) which presently has 58 parties. This treaty is presently the most comprehensive one with regard to the rights of all migrant workers. It goes beyond the UDHR since it covers families of migrant workers, and the right of legal migrant workers to establish their own labour unions in the receiving states. Thailand has fulfilled its obligations as to protection of migrant workers under international law on human rights and labour rights. However, it has not been a party to the ICRMW. Consequently, a question as to whether Thailand should be a party to the ICRMW is a matter of policy which must be considered prudently.