The International Labour Organization (ILO) has developed a new toolkit to enhance social dialogue between employers and workers in Thailand’s automotive supply chain. This toolkit aims to strengthen responsible business conduct in the sector.
The toolkit was developed in response to an ILO report which found that social dialogue and worker representation within the automotive industry needed improvement to address issues like discrimination, excessive working hours, and a lack of training and career progression opportunities.
This industry-oriented toolkit provides a comprehensive set of guidelines, interactive training, and mentoring and advisory services for automotive businesses in Thailand. It is aligned with both national and international standards and addresses emerging supply chain requirements. The toolkit is aimed at company-level managers and trade unions.
The launch of the toolkit was marked by a training event in Bangkok attended by representatives from government, employer associations, trade unions, and companies from the automotive manufacturing supply chain. The training focused on implementing the toolkit and its potential to improve decent work conditions and responsible business practices.
David Williams, the Manager of the ILO’s RISSC Project in Thailand, emphasized the importance of social dialogue and representation in driving broader improvements in decent work and business outcomes. He highlighted the role of social dialogue in enabling responsible business conduct through Human Rights Due Diligence and its effectiveness in mitigating labor risks in automotive workplaces.
Thailand is a major automotive producer and exporter, with the sector contributing significantly to the country’s GDP and employing nearly a million workers. The toolkit is set to be publicly released in December 2024.
