Thailand joins the list of countries to recognise and regulate work from home, taking cognisance of the new realities which emerged after the Covid pandemic. The Ratthasapha or the National Assembly passed the Labour Protection Act (No. 8) B.E. 2566 to amend Thailand’s existing Labour Protection Act (B.E 2541). The amendment recognises agreement between an employer and employee for the latter to perform her or his duties from home or to work remotely. The amended law seeks to regulate working hours, overtime, breaks/rests, responsibility of  logistics and other costs of work, etc.  the  that the work from home arrangements. The legislation will become law as soon as it has received the royal endorsement.

Work-from-home can be a win-win for both the employers and employees, with the former saving on fixed office costs and the latter getting a better quality of life. It may especially become a boon for working mothers who get unfairly loaded with taking care of household responsibilities and taking care of children while also working in office.

The Thai law, in addition to dealing with the aforementioned issues, also requires the employers not to discriminate against the employees working remotely and treat them at par with the employees working from office. Further, the law also restricts employers from contacting such employees beyond the working hours. Many countries in Europe already recognise work from home: Germany and the Netherlands even give the right to employees to opt for work remotely, subject to certain conditions. In Thailand, however, working remotely would be subject to agreement between the employer and employee and does not vest any right in an employee.