Bangkok, Thailand 27 June 2022: Memorandum of Understanding on assisting migrant populations with labor and family issues between the Rights and Liberties Protection Department (RLPD) and the Labour Protection Network (LPN)
On the 27th of June 2022 the Labour Protection Network (LPN) and Rights and Liberties Protection Department (RLPD) successfully signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signifying that the two organizations have agreed to cooperate in assisting migrant populations over the next two years. The organizations have agreed to focus on labor and family issues.
The common principle of the LPN and the RLPD is the need to build awareness of human rights law and the rights of vulnerable people within society. Both organizations hope to promote the implementation of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights and other international human rights obligations. Cooperation will be integral to ensure that vulnerable groups have convenient and equal access to legal assistance and the justice system.
The MoU has three clear objectives.
The first is to encourage migrant workers and families to gain knowledge about their rights and how they can be protected. This includes educating them on the National Action Plan.
Secondly, the organization hope to develop cooperation and formulate an action plan for providing legal aid in scenarios where migrant’s rights are not upheld.
Finally, the MoU hopes to construct and promote a network of both government agencies and civil society organization to aid in the legal ratification of human rights in Thailand.
LPN and RLPD’s cooperation framework focuses on four distinct areas of collaboration.
The organizations aim to disseminate and promote information of the protection of rights and how vulnerable groups can gain legal aid from the Thai government when these rights are violated.
They further hope to increase integration between government agencies and civil society in order to provide legal aid to migrant populations. This will also focus on ensuring migrants are provided with interpreters during judicial and mediation processes.
LPN and RLPD also hope to develop a joint development action plan specifically focusing on migrant populations involved in labor and family disputes.
Finally, the MoU hopes to organize meetings, seminars, training programs, and other knowledge exchange opportunities between the Thai government and civil society organizations in order to develop personnel potential and the relationship between the two organizations.
Mr. Sompong Srakaew, the Executive Director of LPN, hopes that the signing of this memorandum and cooperation with the RLPD will assist vulnerable people to gain legal awareness and access to the justice system.
This will ensure that migrant populations in Thailand have a more equal standing in Thai society and that their rights will be upheld.