Employees in Thailand have been able to work from home since the beginning of the year. The newly passed Section 23/1 of the Thai Labor Protection Act 1998 is intended to help improve the work-life balance of employees and relieve the burden on urban infrastructure.
The basis for working from home – or rather working at any location outside the office – is an agreement between the employer and employee.
This agreement can either be in electronic or written form and must include the employee’s working hours, working days, overtime regulations, types of vacation, the scope of work and the obligations to provide the necessary work equipment.
Employees have the right to refuse to communicate with their employer outside of business hours unless both parties have expressly agreed otherwise. In addition, employees who work from home have the same rights and protections under the Occupational Health and Safety Act as regular employees.
The new regulations for working from home offer more flexibility for both employees and employers. While employees save time and money on long commutes, employers can save money on office space and services. The flexibility of working from home means that the company is not tied to the employee’s location and has the opportunity to access a wider range of qualified employees.
Overall, the new regulations are a positive development for employers and employees and show modern legislation in Thailand.