The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched a new training programme to help companies in Thailand’s automotive and electronics industries strengthen human rights due diligence (HRDD) through improved workplace dialogue and cooperation.
Implemented under the ILO’s Advancing Responsible Supply Chains and Decent Work in Asia (RSC) project with support from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the programme began in June 2026 and will continue throughout the year. More than 50 companies from Thailand’s automotive, auto-parts, and electronics supply chains are expected to participate.
The initiative focuses on building practical systems for identifying, preventing, and addressing human rights risks within workplaces rather than providing one-time awareness training. Participating companies include original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), lower-tier suppliers, and enterprises integrated into Japanese multinational supply chains, extending the programme’s potential impact across broader regional supply networks.
The training brings together company managers, human resources professionals, trade union representatives, worker representatives, and government officials to strengthen bilateral social dialogue and workplace cooperation. Based on international labour standards, the programme aims to help businesses meet growing global human rights due diligence requirements while improving industrial relations and responsible business practices.
During a training session held on 13–14 July 2026 in Chonburi, more than 40 participants from the automotive and electronics sectors joined representatives from Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) and the Department of Skill Development (DSD) to develop practical approaches for strengthening communication and cooperation between employers and workers.
Government representatives highlighted the importance of workplace dialogue in supporting Thailand’s long-term industrial competitiveness and sustainable economic development. The programme is also expected to contribute practical insights to the development of Thailand’s proposed Draft Act on the Promotion of Responsible Business Conduct, which would introduce the country’s first mandatory human rights due diligence legislation.
As part of the initiative, participating companies will develop customized human rights due diligence improvement plans and receive ongoing mentoring to help implement them effectively.
Thailand’s automotive and electronics industries employ approximately 1.45 million workers and are among the country’s largest export sectors. They play a key role in global supply chains and are central to Thailand’s transition toward higher-value manufacturing, including the production of electric and zero-emission vehicles.
