ECOT President Emphasizes: “Motherhood Must Not Be a Barrier to Career Advancement,” Calls for Stronger Maternity Protection and Safer Workplaces

Chonburi — Mr. Ekasit Kunanantakul, President of the Employers’ Confederation of Thailand (ECOT), emphasized that women workers are a vital force in the manufacturing sector and underscored the importance of promoting maternity protection and creating workplaces that are safe, fair, respectful of human dignity, and free from violence and harassment.

On 19 August 2026,   Mr. Ekasit Kunanantakul , President of ECOT, attended the workshop on “Labour Rights and the Promotion of Decent Work,” with a focus on maternity protection and the prevention of violence and harassment against women workers in the manufacturing sector, held at Amari Bangsaen Hotel, Chonburi Province.

The workshop was officially opened by Mr. Chaiyaporn Paepirojmrat, Vice Governor of Chonburi Province. Welcoming remarks were delivered by Ms. Xiaoyan Qian, Director of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR, and Mr. Eksit Kunanantakul, President of ECOT. Mr. Jun Yamada, Counsellor and Head of the International Organizations Section, Embassy of Japan in Thailand, also delivered congratulatory remarks.

Mr. Eksit stressed that women workers are an essential part of the manufacturing sector. Creating a working environment that is safe, fair, and respectful of workers’ dignity is therefore an important issue that requires joint efforts from all relevant stakeholders.

At the same time, pregnancy, childbirth, and returning to work should not become barriers to employment opportunities or career advancement for women workers. Enterprises should therefore provide appropriate rights and protection measures, together with effective mechanisms to prevent and address violence and harassment in the workplace.

The workshop featured exchanges of knowledge and good practices covering fundamental labour rights, maternity protection, return-to-work support after childbirth, business and human rights, and the creation of safe workplaces. Group activities also provided participants with opportunities to share experiences, challenges, and practical approaches that can be applied in workplaces.

Representing ECOT at the workshop were Mrs. Siriwan Romchatthong, Secretary-General of ECOT; Mr. Ukrish Kanchanaketu, Senior Advisor; ECOT advisors Mr. Bovornsak Klaharn, Mr. Kornchai Kaewmahawongse, Dr. Paniti Sirikate, and Mr. Thanaboon Saiwongse; as well as representatives from ECOT’s Eastern Region.

In addition,  Mr. Ukrish Kanchanaketu and Mr. Sakda Hwankaew, Director of ECOT’s Eastern Region Office, jointly shared their perspectives in the session on “Business and Human Righ Mr. Ukrish Kanchanaketu ts (and Labour Rights): Supporting Workers, Particularly Women Workers.”

The session on “Creating Safe Workplaces: Understanding Violence and Harassment” was presented by Ms. Deepa Bharathi, Senior Specialist on Gender Equality, Non-Discrimination and Inclusion at the International Labour Organization (ILO), together with  Mr. Ukrish Kanchanaketu.

The workshop reflected strong cooperation among government agencies, employers, the business sector, and the International Labour Organization in advancing Decent Work and promoting workplaces that respect labour rights while strengthening the capacity and competitiveness of businesses in a sustainable manner.

Protecting workers is not only about safeguarding “rights”; it is also about creating workplaces where people and organizations can grow together sustainably.