Suntaree Saeng-ging

SS-G: My name is Suntaree Saeng-ging and I work with Home-Net, Thailand. Home-Net is an organisation of informal workers. We fight to have informal workers included in legal labour protections.

BTS: Can you tell us about the working conditions that informal workers face in Thailand?

SS-G: Well, although 60% of the Thai workforce is informal, we informal workers still face many problems and limitations. For example, we cannot access the minimum wage and we don’t have the right to organise a trade union. Moreover, we cannot access social protection. So compared to the rights that formal workers have, we are worse off.

BTS: So, what would you need to make informal home work decent work?

SS-G: First, I think we to be recognised as workers and we ought to have access to the minimum wage. Second, we need to work in safety and with healthcare. Third, we need regular work. And fourth, we need social protection.

BTS: And what would a convention on decent work in supply chains mean for informal workers?

SS-G: Conventions change a lot. But the key is implementation. In Thailand, we have signed the convention related to informal economy and homework. But implementation is still necessary.

BTS: Thank you very much Suntaree.