Thailand has launched a new phase of the EU-funded Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia programme to promote safe migration and strengthen migrant workers' rights, who are central to Thailand's blue economy and play a vital role in fisheries and seafood processing. The launch was marked on 23 September by the first National Programme Advisory Committee (NPAC) meeting in Bangkok, which brought together the Ministry of Labour, the European Union Delegation, United Nations agencies, and key partners.
The new phase expands the programme into a regional initiative implemented by the ILO in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It broadens the scope to cover aquaculture, deepens engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and strengthens collaboration with national partners to address persistent decent work deficits, recruitment risks, labour rights abuses and forced labour. At the same time, it aims to promote safe migration and sustainable growth in Southeast Asia's fish and seafood supply chains.
"Decent work and labour rights are values at the heart of EU action internally and externally. The EU's support for labour rights initiatives aligns with its commitment to the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EU CSDDD) and the Free Trade Agreements negotiations, ensuring that trade and investment policies uphold ethical labour practices. The EU is committed to continue to support this collaborative action in Thailand," said Sara Rezoagli, Chargée d'Affaires of European Union Delegation to Thailand.
"The Royal Thai Government by the Ministry of Labour recognizes the importance of labour rights in blue economy and will continue to provide unwavering support through the Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia Programme to align with international labour standards and further improve the living and working conditions of workers in the blue economy," said Kanjana Poolkaew, Inspector-General, Ministry of Labour.
The EU-funded Ship to Shore Rights programme, first launched in Thailand in 2016, has become a flagship initiative recognized for its inclusive, multi-stakeholder approach and progress. Building on advances made under the leadership of the Royal Thai Government, with the commitment of workers' and employers' organizations and the expertise of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UN partners, Thailand has emerged as a regional leader in improving labour conditions in the blue economy.
