GCNT Participates in "Developing Business and Human Rights regional leadership in ASEAN: Anchoring migrant workers’ rights protection"

GCNT participated in the Developing Business and Human Rights regional leadership in ASEAN: Anchoring migrant workers’ rights protection with AICHR Thailand, Migrant Forum Asia, and Sedex on 16 September 2025 at UN ESCAP as part of the 7th United Nations Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum, Asia-Pacific, held in Bangkok, Thailand.

Participating as a panelist, Dr. Kuanruthai Siripatthanakosol, Deputy Secretary General, UN Global Compact Network Thailand said that because Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) is a continuing process, it is imperative that all stakeholders understand the value in this practice. Moreover, there is a need for effective and implementable policies that will help businesses comply with this practice and embed HRDD into the business supply chain.

H.E. Bhanubhatra Jittiang, Thailand’s Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) who participated in the panel discussion shared that AICHR is dedicated to developing complaints mechanisms that will enable workers to continue with this dialogue, while more effort is still required at the regional level to fully allow HRDD policies to be widely implemented.

Walter Lin, Managing Director for Asia from Sedex offered another perspective that while international market requirements encourage local operations to comply with human rights laws, many companies in Asia are still learning about this approach, and that policymakers need to provide incentives to the private sector to initiate HRDD practices, especially for SMEs who are likely to lack resources and support in HRDD implementation.

Lastly, William Gois, Regional Coordinator from Migrant Forum in Asia commented that change regarding HRDD in ASEAN is lagging, while suggesting that corridor approaches may address this issue as it allows countries to join the movement once they are ready without leaving anyone behind.