Eliminating Child Labour
Eliminating Child Labour
Project Coordinator for Thailand
Brother Sirichai Singtid
TWFT
The ITGLWF runs a project on the elimination of child labour project in Thailand, a project that has been generously supported by both FNV and SASK.
The project is coordinated by Brother Sirichai Singtid, aged 51, from Bangkok.
About Brother Sirachai:
Brother Sirichai is a union official with the Textile Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation of Thailand (TWFT). He has been coordinating the ITGLWF’s child labour project in Thailand since 1998.
Brother Sirichai’s initially became involved in the trade union movement in 1980 when he worked in textile factories as a repair maintenance technician. This is when he became involved in efforts to promote trade unions in the Thai textile industry in Samut Prakan.
Brother Sirichai quickly progressed within the trade union movement holding numerous union positions in 1980s membership of the board of directors of the workers federation and later became vice president in 1992
In 1993 he began coordination of the study circles project which he continued to coordinate until 1998 when he became coordinator for the Elimination of Child Labour Project.
What motivated you to work for a Trade union?
According to Brother Sirichai he works in a trade union because;
“.. Unions are a democratic organization, a tool in the fight to protect rights, including the protection of basic rights and uphold liberty, equality and fraternity something which is different from the employer organisations and the State. “
Briefly tell us about Child Labour in the textile sector?
Child Labour mainly exists in smaller enterprises in the textile sector in Thailand. There is a high rate of child labour within Bangkok itself and in other metropolitan areas. There is also the problem that Burmese migrant children are being exploited by employers.
In the textile sector children mainly carry out tasks such as cutting, sewing (garments and bags), footwear production.
What work do you carry out to help eliminate child labour?
We carry out various activities in the campaign to eliminate child labor. One of the most important steps is to bring unions together and have a united approach to the issue. This unity creates strength within the Union movement and helps us better tackle the problem.
All union members are on the look out for the use of child labour and unions are also trying to publicise the issue within Thai and migrant communities. The unions are attempting to create a better understanding of the issue
and looked at the problem of child labor is a member of every man must be aware that watch and people in the communities of understanding of the union.
If we see the child labor union members will notify the agency responsible for providing assistance
What activities are you working on at the moment?
We are working on a plan of activities targeting migrant workers and we are also planning a national child labour meeting. We are also continuing to monitor developments in relation to the Burmese community and developments in Burma. We are also closely following any developments in the Labor laws of Thailand. Finally we also plan to have a meeting with the FTUB soon.
This interview was carried out in June 2010
