"Thai labor laws governing foreign workers to be amended"

The Thai government has come under pressure to change a number of labor laws governing foreign workers to comply with standards set by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) had asked the Thai government to alter seven labor laws to conform with ILO standards. If Thailand fails to amend the seven labor laws, it may effect the renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) from the US.

...USTR had called for changes to seven laws on freedom of association, labor unions and negotiations. Thailand had altered five of the seven laws in a bid to conform with ILO standards.

The other two laws relating to foreign workers concern forming a union, which the Labor Ministry had put out for consideration, and allowing foreign workers to have freedom of speech, which might be impossible due to conflicts with the criminal law of Thailand.