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May 08, 2006
DPI and ILO join in the Walking Rally on Labour Day in Bangkok
DPI and ILO join in the Walking Rally on Labour Day in Bangkok
May 1, the National Labor Day, Disabled Peoples'
International Asia Pacific Regional Office (DPI/AP) mobilized the
demonstration parade, in co-operation with the International Labor
Organization (ILO) and the Council of Disabled People of Thailand
(DPI-Thailand), as a part of mainstream labor movement.
At 12 O'clock under the blazing sunshine, about 60 people,
including both people with disability (PWD) and non-disabled gathered at the
Rama V Monument in Bangkok, Thailand. After having lunch-box, PWD (mainly
people with visual impairment, hearing impairment, and physical disability)
started to walk to the Sanam Luang (the Royal Plaza), which is 2 kilometers
ahead. They kept walking for about 2 hours, demonstrating the following 4
demands:
1) Government should ratify the ILO Convention 159
on Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) 1983
2) Government should review and amend/abolish 52
laws/regulations which discriminates PWDs in the field of employment.
3) The Ministry which is responsible for the Ministerial Regulation on
Employment Promotion for PWDs should be shifted from the Ministry of
Social Development and Human Security to the Ministry of Labor.
4) Government should ensure more serious implementation of safety
measure in workplaces in order to avoid increasing number of PWDs.
For those who have become disabled at work, they should
receive compensation and medical service for live, not only 10 years under
the present Social Security Act.
After the rally reached the destination, Mr. Topong Kulkhanchit,
the Regional Development Officer for Asia-Pacific, submitted the petition
with 4 demand directly to the Labour Minister, Mr. Somsak Thepsuthin. The
Minister accepted the request quite sincerely and promised to work towards
the each problem seriously.
The Council of Disabled People of Thailand (DPI-Thailand) actively joined Labour Day 2006 Campaign.
Staffs of ILO Sub-regional Office for South East Asia, based in Bangkok, also joined to promote Decent Work and ILO Convention 159.
Mr. Somsak Thepsuthin, Minister of Labour, responded positively toward DPI-Thailand’s 4
demands. However, he reserved that other law-amendment and policy-related requests have to wait for the formation of a new parliament before anything can be considered and pushed forward.
Debra A. Perry, Senior Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation, International Labour Office in
Bangkok shared fresh water among disabled persons after long marching under heavy sunrise.
It has been proved strong determination and spirit of people with disabilities to expose themselves
in a very hot day in Bangkok on Labour Day with the mainstream labour movement.
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This news has been forwarded to you by DPI Asia-Pacific Regional Office
Sincerely.
Topong Kulkhanchit
Posted by jicafriends at May 8, 2006 04:42 PM