Thai private sector satisfied with delayed enforcement of tough labor law

BANGKOK, July 5 (TNA)- The Joint Standing Commitee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JTCCIB), Thailand's main tripartite-private sector, has expressed its satisfaction with an official decision on the postponed enforcement of the new tough executive decree on the management of migrant workers for 180 days. Pridi Daochai, President of the Thai Bankers Association, has echoed the view on behalf of the Thai private sector in response to the official action announced by the Thai army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) on July 4. Pridi said, however, that it is too early to assess whether the 180-day delay on the enforcement of the new executive decree with tough legal punishments against both illegal migrant workers and their employers should be enough for both sides to comply with the new law. The Thai Bankers Association's chief, nonetheless, shared his view that the Thai government's policy on allowing the private sector to participate in its decision makings on migrant workers has been on the right track and should eventually lead to the United States' decision on raising Thailand's status in its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Reports to a further improved level, from the Tier 2 Watchlist category presently. (TNA)