Female workers demand solutions on Int'l Women’s Day

BANGKOK, March 8 (TNA) - Over 1,000 female workers and activists marched from the United Nations Office in Bangkok to Government House today to demand solutions to six problems, especially hardships of flood-affected female workers. The female workers also called for greater roles of women in a new fund recently set up by the Thai government to promote women’s roles. Thanaporn Wichan, head of the Women Workers’ Unity Group, said during the rally that her group wants the Thai government to urgently help female workers who were victims of Thailand's massive flooding late last year, with the sought assistance including the payment of overdue wages, compensation, a vocational fund and unemployment insurance. Thanaporn acknowledged that female workers formed the majority of 51,000 workers who were laid off and 160,000 others who have not returned to work due to last year’s flooding, and that female workers accounted for 46 per cent of Thailand's total workforces of some 38 million workers. Thanaporn also demanded that female members of labour unions in Thai informal and formal industries have access to the government-run Women's Fund, noting that the fund membership has initially limited to only members of foundations and associations. Besides, the local female workers demanded proper nurseries for women who work in factories and the ratification of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 183, which guarantees revenues and welfare for women during their maternity leaves, health services for mothers and children and fathers’ leaves to take care of their newly born babies. Under the ILO convention, maternity leaves legally last at least three months and a half each and revenues during the maternity leaves amount to at least two-thirds of their wages. According to the local female workers, they disagree with the privatization of state enterprises because they believe it will block underprivileged female workers from accessing to public utility services, demanding greater representation of women in tripartite committees on labour and political affairs. (TNA)