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29 October, 2025The ILO C8798 Driving Network, a coalition of 26 labour organizations led by IndustriALL Global Union affiliates in Thailand, has decided to escalate its campaign urging the government to ratify International Labour Organization Conventions 87 and 98 on freedom of association and collective bargaining.
Representatives of the network met on 22 October at the TEAM training centre to review progress in the campaign so far. They noted that their efforts have drawn increasing attention from the Thai government, the European Union delegation in Thailand, as well as the public.
Going forward, the coalition plans to intensify engagement with the EU delegation to press for the inclusion of C87 and C98 ratification as a prerequisite for the EU-Thailand Free Trade Agreement.
Participants expressed frustration with the Ministry of Labour’s explanation that political transitions and concerns over labour unrest and migrant worker organizing have delayed ratification. The ministry is reportedly considering ratifying Convention 98 first rather than both conventions simultaneously.
Confederation of Industrial Labour of Thailand (CILT) president Larey Youpensuk reiterated the movement’s long-standing demand for simultaneous ratification.
“Our position is clear that the government should ratify both C87 and C98,”
Youpensuk said.
“The Thai labour movement has been fighting for this for three decades, but all the ruling elites have ignored us. We call on all political parties to include the ratification in their election manifestos ahead of the March 2026 general election.”
IndustriALL regional secretary for South East Asia Ramon Certeza praised the coalition’s efforts, noting that the campaign’s strategic evaluation will strengthen advocacy moving forward.
“IndustriALL will continue to mobilize global solidarity support around this meaningful campaign,”
Certeza said.