Proposed Amendments to the Homeworkers Protection Act B.E. 2553 (2010)

The Homeworkers Protection Act B.E. 2553 (2010) has been in force for a significant period, but certain provisions have become outdated and do not adequately support the current labor environment. As a result, amendments are necessary to enhance protections for homeworkers and align the law with present-day economic and technological developments.

Key proposed amendments include:

  1. Expanded Definition of “Home-Based Work” – The current definition may not cover modern remote and gig-based work. The revision broadens its scope to include digital and service-oriented tasks. “Home-based work” refers to tasks assigned by an employer in industries like manufacturing, handicrafts, agriculture, or services, performed at home.
  2. Clarification of the Role of Labor Inspectors – The proposed amendments seek to refine the definition and authority of labor inspectors to enable more effective enforcement. This includes clearer guidelines on their powers to monitor and ensure compliance with the law, particularly in the context of dispersed and informal employment arrangements.
  3. Prohibition of Harmful Work for Children and Pregnant Women – It is prohibited to employ or require any child under the age of eighteen or any pregnant woman to engage in any work, including home-based work, that could endanger their health, safety, or well-being.
  4. Improved Protection Mechanisms – Enhancing legal safeguards, such as fair compensation, occupational safety, and social security access, will help strengthen the rights of homeworkers and reduce their vulnerability to exploitation.

These amendments reflect the necessity of modernizing the Homeworkers Protection Act to better align with the evolving nature of work and ensure fair treatment of home-based workers in Thailand’s labor market.

Proposed Amendments to the Homeworkers Protection Act B.E. 2553 (2010)_Bangkok Global Law