Contributor
Sorrawis Wimonkulwanich
Legal Manager
The Labour Protection Act (No. 9) B.E. 2568 (2025) introduces significant reforms to strengthen labour protections in Thailand. Published in the Royal Gazette on 7 November 2025, the Act will take effect 30 days later, on 7 December 2025.
This amendment modernizes the country’s labour standards by expanding maternity and paternity leave rights, updating employee welfare measures, and ensuring greater equality and protection for workers across both private and public sectors.
Extended Maternity Leave
- Female employees are entitled to maternity leave of up to 120 days per pregnancy, increased from the previous 98 days.
- Employers must pay full wages for up to 60 days of maternity leave.
- The remaining leave days may be compensated by social security or other welfare schemes as applicable.
- Maternity leave can be used both pre- and post-birth, allowing flexibility based on medical advice and employee needs.
- Importantly, female employees who give birth before the law’s effective date (December 7, 2025) but whose maternity leave period extends beyond that date will be entitled to benefits under the new law for the portion of leave that falls on or after December 7, 2025. This ensures no disruption or loss of entitlements due to the timing of childbirth relative to the law’s commencement.
Additional Leave for Childcare
- After maternity leave, female employees are granted an additional 15 days of leave to care for a newborn child who is suffering from illness, disabilities, or other health risks.
- Use of this leave mandates submission of an official medical certificate, ensuring the legitimacy of the claim and preventing misuse.
Introduction of Paternity Leave
- Male employees now have entitlements to 15 days of paid paternity leave to support their spouses and bond with their child.
- This leave may be taken either continuously or intermittently.
- The leave can be taken prior to or within 90 days of the child’s birth.
- The leave is fully compensated by employers, reflecting an important step toward encouraging paternal involvement in childcare and promoting gender equality.
Protection for Contract Workers in Government Units
- Workers employed under service contracts or similar arrangements by government agencies, state enterprises, and public organizations are entitled to labour protections equivalent to regular employees.
- This includes rights to wages, leave (annual, sick, maternity, paternity), working hours, and other labour rights under the law.
Purpose and Impact
These amendments aim to improve the quality of life and job security for Thai workers, particularly parents, by giving them more time to care for newborns and sick children while receiving appropriate wage compensation. The law also rectifies previous gaps in legal protection for contract workers in public sectors, ensuring equitable treatment.
Effective Date
The Labour Protection Act (No. 9) comes into force on December 7, 2025, exactly 30 days after its publication in the Royal Gazette on November 7, 2025
