The European Union should ensure that Thailand tightens its labour laws as a condition for resuming trade talks, rights groups and big companies said, accusing the country of doing too little to combat workplace abuses.
Talks on a trade deal were put on hold following Thailand’s 2014 military coup, but the bloc said last year it was ready to take steps to restart the negotiations – prompting renewed scrutiny of the nation’s record on tackling labour exploitation.
“Thailand has a fundamental problem with impunity to abuse rights,” Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, an advocacy group which was among 45 entities to sign a joint letter submitted to Brussels on Wednesday.