The Service Workers in Group (Swing) Foundation recently held a forum, ‘Sex (Worker) and the City’, to discuss policies relating to sex work, reports the Bangkok Post.
Representatives from the Pheu Thai, People’s, Movement, Thai Sang Thai and Democrat parties joined the discussion at the Cowboy 2 bar in Soi Cowboy, the well-known night entertainment district.
The discussion focused on how politics can take a lead role in improving sex workers’ lives. The group also urged the next government to commit to their cause through tangible policies.
Despite the scale of the sex industry in Thailand, sex work remains criminalised under the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act.
In October 2023, sex work was classified as a regulatory offence to promote decriminalisation, as published in the Royal Gazette. Under the new regulation, only officials from the Social Development and Human Security Ministry can impose fines.
Yet sex workers are often exploited by officials through extortion and bribes as the legal status of the job remains grey. Issues of unfair payment, overwork and abuse from both employers and clients have often gone unaddressed.
Pheu Thai Party: Patdarasm Thongsaluaykorn, a Pheu Thai Party list candidate, said there is no denying that sex workers contribute significantly to the economy, both on a national and a household level.
"No matter how Thailand tries to deny the existence of this profession, the country needs to admit that many families’ breadwinners are doing this job," she said.
Ms Patdarasm said sex workers should be protected under the Entertainment Places Act so they can be considered formal workers.
"Decriminalisation is not the end but only the first step... regardless of who they are or what they do," she said. "This is not about morality, but social structure and inequality."
Her party would also ensure inclusive and equal access to social welfare under labour laws.
People’s Party: Natthaya Boonphakdi, a People’s Party list candidate, said the issue is a matter of human rights due to the discrimination sex workers face, as criminalisation means they are left out of social and legal protection.
She said decriminalisation is the primary condition to improve rights.
Sex work is part of the party’s "state reform" pillars to promote transparency and abolish corruption, she said. The party vowed to push for an Anti-Discrimination Bill post-election.
"While it may take time for sex work to be decriminalised, inclusive social welfare can be offered immediately," she said.
Movement Party: Kannavee Suebsaeng, the Movement Party leader and PM candidate, supports decriminalisation because "sex work is work".
"What right does the state have to decide whether individuals can use their own bodies to earn a living?" he asked.
He said criminalising sex workers fosters corruption and discrimination.
He vowed to push for recognition under the International Labour Organisation’s Recommendation No.204 to help workers transition to the formal economy.
Mr Kannavee also proposed reforming labour laws to ensure equal protection for all types of workers. "As long as the law makes them wrong, it will be used as a tool to violate their rights," he said.
Thai Sang Thai Party: Best Wongpairojkul, Thai Sang Thai deputy secretary-general, said sex work "should not remain in the shadows" and urged decriminalisation.
However, he questioned whether a sex work history would affect future employment.
"We need to work together on raising awareness, regardless of who is in government," he added.
Democrat Party: Issara Sunthornwat, the Democrat deputy leader, said that while his party is still debating decriminalisation, it agrees that the current laws fail to reduce crime and only create grey areas for corruption.
"The problem is not the sex workers themselves, but the system that facilitates corruption and exploitation," he said.
He said the party has a policy to protect informal workers through better contracts and vowed to tackle human trafficking in the sex industry.