The Thai Senate has approved a draft of the labour protection bill, granting female employees 120 days of maternity leave. The bill is expected to become law soon.

A group of women human rights defenders have called for parental leave in Thailand to be made more inclusive by extending it to unmarried partners and family members.

On Wednesday (16 July), parliament passed in the second and third readings a new labour protection bill increasing paid parental leave from 90 to 120 days. Employees whose partners had given birth are also entitled to up to 15 days of paid parental leave.

A House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee has approved a bill increasing paid parental leave from 90 days to 120 days. The bill is expected to be returned to parliament for its second and third reading once the session opens in July.

Thailand’s Labour Protection Act currently allows 98 days maternity leave, with several groups pushing for an expansion to 180 days to align with global standards and to support working-class parents.