ILPC 2027

View Abstract

Author: SAOWALAK CHAYTAWEEP
Co-Authors ⁄ Presenters: none

precarious labour and labour organizing in Northern Thailand

 

Recent changes in global economy, neo-liberalization  as well as rural industrialization have essentially eroded traditional forms of labour employment.  Many employers value flexibility over  security and increasingly employ short term, subcontracting employment or temporary work. Precarious work are widely spread  in several sectors. In the industrial sector, subcontracting is used for reducing labour cost and labour control. Short term employment  is also widely used in service sector. Precarious employment essentially effects  on labour organization. The workers face difficulty in organizing traditional labour trade union.


 

This paper  investigates precarious employment and labour organizations  in Northern Thailand, based on my research with  precarious workers in Chiang Mai –Lamphun provinces, Northern Thailand. By using focus group discussion, in-dept interview and statistic data collection, the research shows that  labour employment in Northern Thailand has been changed, caused by regional industrialization and trade liberalization.  Labour employment in the North has seen its complex, composing of different categories of workers.  A part from the factories in the industrial estate, there are many small-medium size factories which have absorbed a large number of the workers. Some of them are subcontracting , homeworkplaces, producing various kinds of products for the large factories. The home workers are mainly women. Furthermore, the expansion of agri-business has brought about the increasing number of contract farming workers. They are often feel ambiguity of two identities; being farmers and workers.  Thus,the precarity of labour is essentially rooted in the new forms of production.  


 

Regional industrialization and global economic development generates new wage labour relation  which is  different from industrial work. The rhythm of work is more fluid and discontinuous. The workers have been more dislocation and they are not being in the workplaces.  Free trade policy of the government brought about a number of migrant workers to Northern Thailand and enter different sectors of labour market i.e. service sector and agricultural sector. This paper will also investigate   how different categories of workers are organized   and how  labour dispute  will be solved by using a new strategy of  labour organizing strength. The paper will illustrate the role of the state in supporting labour organization as well as cooperation of employer –employee relations. Supporting by local government can create bargaining power for contemporary labour organizing in Northern Thailand.  However, labour NGOs are also taking  important role in strengthening labour organizing. This paper will also examine the conditions which create  cooperation of state –private organizations labour assistance. 


 

             


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

Recent changes in global economy, neo-liberalization  as well as rural industrialization have essentially eroded traditional forms of labour employment.  Many employers value flexibility over  security and increasingly employ short term, subcontracting employment or temporary work. Precarious work are widely spread  in several sectors. In the industrial sector, subcontracting is used for reducing labour cost and labour control. Short term employment  is also widely used in service sector. Precarious employment essentially effects  on labour organization. The workers face difficulty in organizing traditional labour trade union.


 

This paper  investigates precarious employment and labour organizations  in Northern Thailand, based on my research with  precarious workers in Chiang Mai –Lamphun provinces, Northern Thailand. By using focus group discussion, in-dept interview and statistic data collection, the research shows that  labour employment in Northern Thailand has been changed, caused by regional industrialization and trade liberalization.  Labour employment in the North has seen its complex, composing of different categories of workers.  A part from the factories in the industrial estate, there are many small-medium size factories which have absorbed a large number of the workers. Some of them are subcontracting , homeworkplaces, producing various kinds of products for the large factories. The home workers are mainly women. Furthermore, the expansion of agri-business has brought about the increasing number of contract farming workers. They are often feel ambiguity of two identities; being farmers and workers.  Thus,the precarity of labour is essentially rooted in the new forms of production.  


 

Regional industrialization and global economic development generates new wage labour relation  which is  different from industrial work. The rhythm of work is more fluid and discontinuous. The workers have been more dislocation and they are not being in the workplaces.  Free trade policy of the government brought about a number of migrant workers to Northern Thailand and enter different sectors of labour market i.e. service sector and agricultural sector. This paper will also investigate   how different categories of workers are organized   and how  labour dispute  will be solved by using a new strategy of  labour organizing strength. The paper will illustrate the role of the state in supporting labour organization as well as cooperation of employer –employee relations. Supporting by local government can create bargaining power for contemporary labour organizing in Northern Thailand.  However, labour NGOs are also taking  important role in strengthening labour organizing. This paper will also examine the conditions which create  cooperation of state –private organizations labour assistance. 


 

             


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

Recent changes in global economy, neo-liberalization  as well as rural industrialization have essentially eroded traditional forms of labour employment.  Many employers value flexibility over  security and increasingly employ short term, subcontracting employment or temporary work. Precarious work are widely spread  in several sectors. In the industrial sector, subcontracting is used for reducing labour cost and labour control. Short term employment  is also widely used in service sector. Precarious employment essentially effects  on labour organization. The workers face difficulty in organizing traditional labour trade union.


 

This paper  investigates precarious employment and labour organizations  in Northern Thailand, based on my research with  precarious workers in Chiang Mai –Lamphun provinces, Northern Thailand. By using focus group discussion, in-dept interview and statistic data collection, the research shows that  labour employment in Northern Thailand has been changed, caused by regional industrialization and trade liberalization.  Labour employment in the North has seen its complex, composing of different categories of workers.  A part from the factories in the industrial estate, there are many small-medium size factories which have absorbed a large number of the workers. Some of them are subcontracting , homeworkplaces, producing various kinds of products for the large factories. The home workers are mainly women. Furthermore, the expansion of agri-business has brought about the increasing number of contract farming workers. They are often feel ambiguity of two identities; being farmers and workers.  Thus,the precarity of labour is essentially rooted in the new forms of production.  


 

Regional industrialization and global economic development generates new wage labour relation  which is  different from industrial work. The rhythm of work is more fluid and discontinuous. The workers have been more dislocation and they are not being in the workplaces.  Free trade policy of the government brought about a number of migrant workers to Northern Thailand and enter different sectors of labour market i.e. service sector and agricultural sector. This paper will also investigate   how different categories of workers are organized   and how  labour dispute  will be solved by using a new strategy of  labour organizing strength. The paper will illustrate the role of the state in supporting labour organization as well as cooperation of employer –employee relations. Supporting by local government can create bargaining power for contemporary labour organizing in Northern Thailand.  However, labour NGOs are also taking  important role in strengthening labour organizing. This paper will also examine the conditions which create  cooperation of state –private organizations labour assistance. 


 

             


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

Recent changes in global economy, neo-liberalization  as well as rural industrialization have essentially eroded traditional forms of labour employment.  Many employers value flexibility over  security and increasingly employ short term, subcontracting employment or temporary work. Precarious work are widely spread  in several sectors. In the industrial sector, subcontracting is used for reducing labour cost and labour control. Short term employment  is also widely used in service sector. Precarious employment essentially effects  on labour organization. The workers face difficulty in organizing traditional labour trade union.


 

This paper  investigates precarious employment and labour organizations  in Northern Thailand, based on my research with  precarious workers in Chiang Mai –Lamphun provinces, Northern Thailand. By using focus group discussion, in-dept interview and statistic data collection, the research shows that  labour employment in Northern Thailand has been changed, caused by regional industrialization and trade liberalization.  Labour employment in the North has seen its complex, composing of different categories of workers.  A part from the factories in the industrial estate, there are many small-medium size factories which have absorbed a large number of the workers. Some of them are subcontracting , homeworkplaces, producing various kinds of products for the large factories. The home workers are mainly women. Furthermore, the expansion of agri-business has brought about the increasing number of contract farming workers. They are often feel ambiguity of two identities; being farmers and workers.  Thus,the precarity of labour is essentially rooted in the new forms of production.  


 

Regional industrialization and global economic development generates new wage labour relation  which is  different from industrial work. The rhythm of work is more fluid and discontinuous. The workers have been more dislocation and they are not being in the workplaces.  Free trade policy of the government brought about a number of migrant workers to Northern Thailand and enter different sectors of labour market i.e. service sector and agricultural sector. This paper will also investigate   how different categories of workers are organized   and how  labour dispute  will be solved by using a new strategy of  labour organizing strength. The paper will illustrate the role of the state in supporting labour organization as well as cooperation of employer –employee relations. Supporting by local government can create bargaining power for contemporary labour organizing in Northern Thailand.  However, labour NGOs are also taking  important role in strengthening labour organizing. This paper will also examine the conditions which create  cooperation of state –private organizations labour assistance. 


 

             


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

Recent changes in global economy, neo-liberalization  as well as rural industrialization have essentially eroded traditional forms of labour employment.  Many employers value flexibility over  security and increasingly employ short term, subcontracting employment or temporary work. Precarious work are widely spread  in several sectors. In the industrial sector, subcontracting is used for reducing labour cost and labour control. Short term employment  is also widely used in service sector. Precarious employment essentially effects  on labour organization. The workers face difficulty in organizing traditional labour trade union.


 

This paper  investigates precarious employment and labour organizations  in Northern Thailand, based on my research with  precarious workers in Chiang Mai –Lamphun provinces, Northern Thailand. By using focus group discussion, in-dept interview and statistic data collection, the research shows that  labour employment in Northern Thailand has been changed, caused by regional industrialization and trade liberalization.  Labour employment in the North has seen its complex, composing of different categories of workers.  A part from the factories in the industrial estate, there are many small-medium size factories which have absorbed a large number of the workers. Some of them are subcontracting , homeworkplaces, producing various kinds of products for the large factories. The home workers are mainly women. Furthermore, the expansion of agri-business has brought about the increasing number of contract farming workers. They are often feel ambiguity of two identities; being farmers and workers.  Thus,the precarity of labour is essentially rooted in the new forms of production.  


 

Regional industrialization and global economic development generates new wage labour relation  which is  different from industrial work. The rhythm of work is more fluid and discontinuous. The workers have been more dislocation and they are not being in the workplaces.  Free trade policy of the government brought about a number of migrant workers to Northern Thailand and enter different sectors of labour market i.e. service sector and agricultural sector. This paper will also investigate   how different categories of workers are organized   and how  labour dispute  will be solved by using a new strategy of  labour organizing strength. The paper will illustrate the role of the state in supporting labour organization as well as cooperation of employer –employee relations. Supporting by local government can create bargaining power for contemporary labour organizing in Northern Thailand.  However, labour NGOs are also taking  important role in strengthening labour organizing. This paper will also examine the conditions which create  cooperation of state –private organizations labour assistance. 


 

             


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

Recent changes in global economy, neo-liberalization  as well as rural industrialization have essentially eroded traditional forms of labour employment.  Many employers value flexibility over  security and increasingly employ short term, subcontracting employment or temporary work. Precarious work are widely spread  in several sectors. In the industrial sector, subcontracting is used for reducing labour cost and labour control. Short term employment  is also widely used in service sector. Precarious employment essentially effects  on labour organization. The workers face difficulty in organizing traditional labour trade union.


 

This paper  investigates precarious employment and labour organizations  in Northern Thailand, based on my research with  precarious workers in Chiang Mai –Lamphun provinces, Northern Thailand. By using focus group discussion, in-dept interview and statistic data collection, the research shows that  labour employment in Northern Thailand has been changed, caused by regional industrialization and trade liberalization.  Labour employment in the North has seen its complex, composing of different categories of workers.  A part from the factories in the industrial estate, there are many small-medium size factories which have absorbed a large number of the workers. Some of them are subcontracting , homeworkplaces, producing various kinds of products for the large factories. The home workers are mainly women. Furthermore, the expansion of agri-business has brought about the increasing number of contract farming workers. They are often feel ambiguity of two identities; being farmers and workers.  Thus,the precarity of labour is essentially rooted in the new forms of production.  


 

Regional industrialization and global economic development generates new wage labour relation  which is  different from industrial work. The rhythm of work is more fluid and discontinuous. The workers have been more dislocation and they are not being in the workplaces.  Free trade policy of the government brought about a number of migrant workers to Northern Thailand and enter different sectors of labour market i.e. service sector and agricultural sector. This paper will also investigate   how different categories of workers are organized   and how  labour dispute  will be solved by using a new strategy of  labour organizing strength. The paper will illustrate the role of the state in supporting labour organization as well as cooperation of employer –employee relations. Supporting by local government can create bargaining power for contemporary labour organizing in Northern Thailand.  However, labour NGOs are also taking  important role in strengthening labour organizing. This paper will also examine the conditions which create  cooperation of state –private organizations labour assistance. 


 

             


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

Recent changes in global economy, neo-liberalization  as well as rural industrialization have essentially eroded traditional forms of labour employment.  Many employers value flexibility over  security and increasingly employ short term, subcontracting employment or temporary work. Precarious work are widely spread  in several sectors. In the industrial sector, subcontracting is used for reducing labour cost and labour control. Short term employment  is also widely used in service sector. Precarious employment essentially effects  on labour organization. The workers face difficulty in organizing traditional labour trade union.


 

This paper  investigates precarious employment and labour organizations  in Northern Thailand, based on my research with  precarious workers in Chiang Mai –Lamphun provinces, Northern Thailand. By using focus group discussion, in-dept interview and statistic data collection, the research shows that  labour employment in Northern Thailand has been changed, caused by regional industrialization and trade liberalization.  Labour employment in the North has seen its complex, composing of different categories of workers.  A part from the factories in the industrial estate, there are many small-medium size factories which have absorbed a large number of the workers. Some of them are subcontracting , homeworkplaces, producing various kinds of products for the large factories. The home workers are mainly women. Furthermore, the expansion of agri-business has brought about the increasing number of contract farming workers. They are often feel ambiguity of two identities; being farmers and workers.  Thus,the precarity of labour is essentially rooted in the new forms of production.  


 

Regional industrialization and global economic development generates new wage labour relation  which is  different from industrial work. The rhythm of work is more fluid and discontinuous. The workers have been more dislocation and they are not being in the workplaces.  Free trade policy of the government brought about a number of migrant workers to Northern Thailand and enter different sectors of labour market i.e. service sector and agricultural sector. This paper will also investigate   how different categories of workers are organized   and how  labour dispute  will be solved by using a new strategy of  labour organizing strength. The paper will illustrate the role of the state in supporting labour organization as well as cooperation of employer –employee relations. Supporting by local government can create bargaining power for contemporary labour organizing in Northern Thailand.  However, labour NGOs are also taking  important role in strengthening labour organizing. This paper will also examine the conditions which create  cooperation of state –private organizations labour assistance. 


 

             


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

Recent changes in global economy, neo-liberalization  as well as rural industrialization have essentially eroded traditional forms of labour employment.  Many employers value flexibility over  security and increasingly employ short term, subcontracting employment or temporary work. Precarious work are widely spread  in several sectors. In the industrial sector, subcontracting is used for reducing labour cost and labour control. Short term employment  is also widely used in service sector. Precarious employment essentially effects  on labour organization. The workers face difficulty in organizing traditional labour trade union.


 

This paper  investigates precarious employment and labour organizations  in Northern Thailand, based on my research with  precarious workers in Chiang Mai –Lamphun provinces, Northern Thailand. By using focus group discussion, in-dept interview and statistic data collection, the research shows that  labour employment in Northern Thailand has been changed, caused by regional industrialization and trade liberalization.  Labour employment in the North has seen its complex, composing of different categories of workers.  A part from the factories in the industrial estate, there are many small-medium size factories which have absorbed a large number of the workers. Some of them are subcontracting , homeworkplaces, producing various kinds of products for the large factories. The home workers are mainly women. Furthermore, the expansion of agri-business has brought about the increasing number of contract farming workers. They are often feel ambiguity of two identities; being farmers and workers.  Thus,the precarity of labour is essentially rooted in the new forms of production.  


 

Regional industrialization and global economic development generates new wage labour relation  which is  different from industrial work. The rhythm of work is more fluid and discontinuous. The workers have been more dislocation and they are not being in the workplaces.  Free trade policy of the government brought about a number of migrant workers to Northern Thailand and enter different sectors of labour market i.e. service sector and agricultural sector. This paper will also investigate   how different categories of workers are organized   and how  labour dispute  will be solved by using a new strategy of  labour organizing strength. The paper will illustrate the role of the state in supporting labour organization as well as cooperation of employer –employee relations. Supporting by local government can create bargaining power for contemporary labour organizing in Northern Thailand.  However, labour NGOs are also taking  important role in strengthening labour organizing. This paper will also examine the conditions which create  cooperation of state –private organizations labour assistance. 


 

             


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

Recent changes in global economy, neo-liberalization  as well as rural industrialization have essentially eroded traditional forms of labour employment.  Many employers value flexibility over  security and increasingly employ short term, subcontracting employment or temporary work. Precarious work are widely spread  in several sectors. In the industrial sector, subcontracting is used for reducing labour cost and labour control. Short term employment  is also widely used in service sector. Precarious employment essentially effects  on labour organization. The workers face difficulty in organizing traditional labour trade union.


 

This paper  investigates precarious employment and labour organizations  in Northern Thailand, based on my research with  precarious workers in Chiang Mai –Lamphun provinces, Northern Thailand. By using focus group discussion, in-dept interview and statistic data collection, the research shows that  labour employment in Northern Thailand has been changed, caused by regional industrialization and trade liberalization.  Labour employment in the North has seen its complex, composing of different categories of workers.  A part from the factories in the industrial estate, there are many small-medium size factories which have absorbed a large number of the workers. Some of them are subcontracting , homeworkplaces, producing various kinds of products for the large factories. The home workers are mainly women. Furthermore, the expansion of agri-business has brought about the increasing number of contract farming workers. They are often feel ambiguity of two identities; being farmers and workers.  Thus,the precarity of labour is essentially rooted in the new forms of production.  


 

Regional industrialization and global economic development generates new wage labour relation  which is  different from industrial work. The rhythm of work is more fluid and discontinuous. The workers have been more dislocation and they are not being in the workplaces.  Free trade policy of the government brought about a number of migrant workers to Northern Thailand and enter different sectors of labour market i.e. service sector and agricultural sector. This paper will also investigate   how different categories of workers are organized   and how  labour dispute  will be solved by using a new strategy of  labour organizing strength. The paper will illustrate the role of the state in supporting labour organization as well as cooperation of employer –employee relations. Supporting by local government can create bargaining power for contemporary labour organizing in Northern Thailand.  However, labour NGOs are also taking  important role in strengthening labour organizing. This paper will also examine the conditions which create  cooperation of state –private organizations labour assistance. 


 

             


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

Recent changes in global economy, neo-liberalization  as well as rural industrialization have essentially eroded traditional forms of labour employment.  Many employers value flexibility over  security and increasingly employ short term, subcontracting employment or temporary work. Precarious work are widely spread  in several sectors. In the industrial sector, subcontracting is used for reducing labour cost and labour control. Short term employment  is also widely used in service sector. Precarious employment essentially effects  on labour organization. The workers face difficulty in organizing traditional labour trade union.


 

This paper  investigates precarious employment and labour organizations  in Northern Thailand, based on my research with  precarious workers in Chiang Mai –Lamphun provinces, Northern Thailand. By using focus group discussion, in-dept interview and statistic data collection, the research shows that  labour employment in Northern Thailand has been changed, caused by regional industrialization and trade liberalization.  Labour employment in the North has seen its complex, composing of different categories of workers.  A part from the factories in the industrial estate, there are many small-medium size factories which have absorbed a large number of the workers. Some of them are subcontracting , homeworkplaces, producing various kinds of products for the large factories. The home workers are mainly women. Furthermore, the expansion of agri-business has brought about the increasing number of contract farming workers. They are often feel ambiguity of two identities; being farmers and workers.  Thus,the precarity of labour is essentially rooted in the new forms of production.  


 

Regional industrialization and global economic development generates new wage labour relation  which is  different from industrial work. The rhythm of work is more fluid and discontinuous. The workers have been more dislocation and they are not being in the workplaces.  Free trade policy of the government brought about a number of migrant workers to Northern Thailand and enter different sectors of labour market i.e. service sector and agricultural sector. This paper will also investigate   how different categories of workers are organized   and how  labour dispute  will be solved by using a new strategy of  labour organizing strength. The paper will illustrate the role of the state in supporting labour organization as well as cooperation of employer –employee relations. Supporting by local government can create bargaining power for contemporary labour organizing in Northern Thailand.  However, labour NGOs are also taking  important role in strengthening labour organizing. This paper will also examine the conditions which create  cooperation of state –private organizations labour assistance. 


 

             


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

Recent changes in global economy, neo-liberalization  as well as rural industrialization have essentially eroded traditional forms of labour employment.  Many employers value flexibility over  security and increasingly employ short term, subcontracting employment or temporary work. Precarious work are widely spread  in several sectors. In the industrial sector, subcontracting is used for reducing labour cost and labour control. Short term employment  is also widely used in service sector. Precarious employment essentially effects  on labour organization. The workers face difficulty in organizing traditional labour trade union.


 

This paper  investigates precarious employment and labour organizations  in Northern Thailand, based on my research with  precarious workers in Chiang Mai –Lamphun provinces, Northern Thailand. By using focus group discussion, in-dept interview and statistic data collection, the research shows that  labour employment in Northern Thailand has been changed, caused by regional industrialization and trade liberalization.  Labour employment in the North has seen its complex, composing of different categories of workers.  A part from the factories in the industrial estate, there are many small-medium size factories which have absorbed a large number of the workers. Some of them are subcontracting , homeworkplaces, producing various kinds of products for the large factories. The home workers are mainly women. Furthermore, the expansion of agri-business has brought about the increasing number of contract farming workers. They are often feel ambiguity of two identities; being farmers and workers.  Thus,the precarity of labour is essentially rooted in the new forms of production.  


 

Regional industrialization and global economic development generates new wage labour relation  which is  different from industrial work. The rhythm of work is more fluid and discontinuous. The workers have been more dislocation and they are not being in the workplaces.  Free trade policy of the government brought about a number of migrant workers to Northern Thailand and enter different sectors of labour market i.e. service sector and agricultural sector. This paper will also investigate   how different categories of workers are organized   and how  labour dispute  will be solved by using a new strategy of  labour organizing strength. The paper will illustrate the role of the state in supporting labour organization as well as cooperation of employer –employee relations. Supporting by local government can create bargaining power for contemporary labour organizing in Northern Thailand.  However, labour NGOs are also taking  important role in strengthening labour organizing. This paper will also examine the conditions which create  cooperation of state –private organizations labour assistance. 


 

             


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

Recent changes in global economy, neo-liberalization  as well as rural industrialization have essentially eroded traditional forms of labour employment.  Many employers value flexibility over  security and increasingly employ short term, subcontracting employment or temporary work. Precarious work are widely spread  in several sectors. In the industrial sector, subcontracting is used for reducing labour cost and labour control. Short term employment  is also widely used in service sector. Precarious employment essentially effects  on labour organization. The workers face difficulty in organizing traditional labour trade union.


 

This paper  investigates precarious employment and labour organizations  in Northern Thailand, based on my research with  precarious workers in Chiang Mai –Lamphun provinces, Northern Thailand. By using focus group discussion, in-dept interview and statistic data collection, the research shows that  labour employment in Northern Thailand has been changed, caused by regional industrialization and trade liberalization.  Labour employment in the North has seen its complex, composing of different categories of workers.  A part from the factories in the industrial estate, there are many small-medium size factories which have absorbed a large number of the workers. Some of them are subcontracting , homeworkplaces, producing various kinds of products for the large factories. The home workers are mainly women. Furthermore, the expansion of agri-business has brought about the increasing number of contract farming workers. They are often feel ambiguity of two identities; being farmers and workers.  Thus,the precarity of labour is essentially rooted in the new forms of production.  


 

Regional industrialization and global economic development generates new wage labour relation  which is  different from industrial work. The rhythm of work is more fluid and discontinuous. The workers have been more dislocation and they are not being in the workplaces.  Free trade policy of the government brought about a number of migrant workers to Northern Thailand and enter different sectors of labour market i.e. service sector and agricultural sector. This paper will also investigate   how different categories of workers are organized   and how  labour dispute  will be solved by using a new strategy of  labour organizing strength. The paper will illustrate the role of the state in supporting labour organization as well as cooperation of employer –employee relations. Supporting by local government can create bargaining power for contemporary labour organizing in Northern Thailand.  However, labour NGOs are also taking  important role in strengthening labour organizing. This paper will also examine the conditions which create  cooperation of state –private organizations labour assistance. 


 

             


 

 


 

Recent changes in global economy, neo-liberalization  as well as rural industrialization have essentially eroded traditional forms of labour employment.  Many employers value flexibility over  security and increasingly employ short term, subcontracting employment or temporary work. Precarious work are widely spread  in several sectors. In the industrial sector, subcontracting is used for reducing labour cost and labour control. Short term employment  is also widely used in service sector. Precarious employment essentially effects  on labour organization. The workers face difficulty in organizing traditional labour trade union.


 

This paper  investigates precarious employment and labour organizations  in Northern Thailand, based on my research with  precarious workers in Chiang Mai –Lamphun provinces, Northern Thailand. By using focus group discussion, in-dept interview and statistic data collection, the research shows that  labour employment in Northern Thailand has been changed, caused by regional industrialization and trade liberalization.  Labour employment in the North has seen its complex, composing of different categories of workers.  A part from the factories in the industrial estate, there are many small-medium size factories which have absorbed a large number of the workers. Some of them are subcontracting , homeworkplaces, producing various kinds of products for the large factories. The home workers are mainly women. Furthermore, the expansion of agri-business has brought about the increasing number of contract farming workers. They are often feel ambiguity of two identities; being farmers and workers.  Thus,the precarity of labour is essentially rooted in the new forms of production.  


 

Regional industrialization and global economic development generates new wage labour relation  which is  different from industrial work. The rhythm of work is more fluid and discontinuous. The workers have been more dislocation and they are not being in the workplaces.  Free trade policy of the government brought about a number of migrant workers to Northern Thailand and enter different sectors of labour market i.e. service sector and agricultural sector. This paper will also investigate   how different categories of workers are organized   and how  labour dispute  will be solved by using a new strategy of  labour organizing strength. The paper will illustrate the role of the state in supporting labour organization as well as cooperation of employer –employee relations. Supporting by local government can create bargaining power for contemporary labour organizing in Northern Thailand.  However, labour NGOs are also taking  important role in strengthening labour organizing. This paper will also examine the conditions which create  cooperation of state –private organizations labour assistance.