Thailand, member State of the ILO since 1919, ratified one of the eight fundamental ILO Conventions, namely the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) 1958, (No.111) which is among the most widely ratified ILO Conventions, with 175 ratifications as of today, out of 187 Member States.
Protection against discrimination is a fundamental human right as it is essential for workers to freely choose their employment, develop their full potential and reap the benefits of their labour according to their merit.
This fundamental Convention defines discrimination as “any distinction, exclusion or preference based on race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national or social origin, which has the effect of nullifying or impairing equality of opportunity or treatment in employment or occupation “.
It calls on states that have ratified it to commit to declare and pursue a national policy designed to promote, by methods appropriate to national conditions and practice, equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and profession, to eliminate discrimination in this field.
Its provisions cover matters such as discrimination in access to vocational training, to employment and to particular occupations, and conditions of employment.
For Thailand, the ratification of the Convention No. 111 is a crucial step towards ensuring that the Government truly prioritizes on the equal principle and the elimination of all forms of discrimination, as seen in its national policy and the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand of 2017.