Labor Protection

In August 1998, the Labour Protection Act (1998) went into effect. It applies to all businesses with at least one employee. Under the law, employers who disregard the law are subject to fines ranging from 5,000 baht to 200,000 baht and imprisonment of up to one year. Domestic workers (household staff) are not included in the definition of “employee” and are not covered by the Labor Act. All other employees, whether full or part time, seasonal, casual, occasional or contract, are covered.

Important protections contained in the new law.

Work hours and holidays:

The maximum number of work hours for non-hazardous work is eight hours a day or 48 hours a week in total.

In some types of work as stipulated by law, the employer and the employee may agree to arrange the period of working hours, but it still must not exceed 48 hours a week.

Hazardous work may not exceed seven hours a day, or 42 hours per week.