Reform – the abolition of slavery

In 1873, King Chulalongkorn or King Rama V abolished slavery, a watershed in the history of Thai labour fittingly recorded in the Thai Labour Museum. All men were free to seek employment for a fair wage.

Political reform and the labour movement

The early 1920s had no clear government policy on labour. Labour had no right of organization. Industrial disputes and strikes were frequent. Intellectuals, the pioneers of the labour movement, tried to raise awareness to this growing problem.

The 1932 coup brought hopes of improvement. The Thai Tram Workers Association, the first labour union was formed. A nationalist economic policy required Thai ownership of companies, registration of unemployed and recognition of workers' rights.

World War II and the Cold War

The Japanese occupation in World War II put a halt to things, causing unemployment, inflation and severe hardships. Many workers joined the underground resistance movement.

Thai labour's setback continued during the Cold War. Military dictators, who were staunchly anti-communist and anti-labour, clamped down on labour as workers' rights and unions were considered unfavourable to investment.

The turbulent 1970s to the end of the century

Widespread discontent forged an alliance of workers, farmers and students that boiled over in 1973. The video in the Thai Labour Museum gives a detailed account of the events leading up to the bloodbath on 14 October 1973.