Resident Coordinator's Remarks at the Fifth National Programme Advisory Committee Meeting (NPAC) on the Safe and Fair Programme

Ms. Kanjana Poolkaew, Deputy Director-General, Department of Labour Protection & Welfare, Ministry of Labour;

Ms. Francesca Gilli, Acting Team Leader, Cooperation Section, Delegation of European Union to Thailand;

Ms. Norul Mohamed Rashid, Officer-in-Charge, UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific;

Representatives from the Royal Thai Government, employers and workers organizations, civil society members, and social dialogue partners.

I am delighted to join you today at the National Programme Advisory Committee of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, Safe and Fair programme.

I would like to thank the European Union for its partnership as we leverage our regional capacities to ensure a healthy, safe, and dignified environment for all migrant workers. This initiative is a demonstration of multilateral collaboration, which is key to tackling such cross border dimensions of development.   

I would also like to congratulate Thailand for making impressive strides in protecting the rights of migrant workers through practical migration measures.

As of last month, the Government has lifted quarantine requirements for migrant workers from three neighboring countries. This facilitates an easier entry process for people in search of work and reduces the additional recruitment cost to employers.

Likewise, to address labour shortages in the industrial and service sectors, the Government has recently granted visa extensions for documented migrants until early 2025, while also fast-tracking the regularization of undocumented migrant workers.

I am encouraged by these progressive policies, which will contribute to strengthening the economy and society.

However, challenges remain. With migration comes the risks of trafficking, violence, unsafe workplace conditions, and unfair recruitment practices, all of which disproportionately impact women.

As we know, migrants are affected by an increased risk of violence and sexual assault when living in close-quarter housing and at work. They also lack access to essential services and resources that adequately address their daily needs especially when faced with violence.

Safe and Fair is critical to building a safe and enabling environment for migrant workers in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders, including trade unions, employers and workers’ organisations, amongst others.

Earlier this year I had the privilege of showcasing Safe and Fair to the President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council when he toured a construction site and accommodations for migrant workers at Sansiri in Samut Prakan province. During this visit, we heard directly from women migrant workers, who make up nearly two thirds of the workforce, about how empowered they felt through the programme interventions.

They discussed the need for a better understanding of their rights, their entitlements, the services they can access, and the grievance mechanisms available to them. They said they now have voice and agency to address issues with fairer employment practices.

I was inspired by their testimonies about the impacts that Safe and Fair is having on the lives of workers.

Today’s meeting is an opportunity for us to continue identifying challenges and solutions for labour migration that is safe and free of violence, exploitation, and abuse.

I look forward to hearing of opportunities to strengthen our partnership, and identify lessons learnt to inform the UN’s wider and integrated offerings as we deliver on the Cooperation Framework.