Members of the Integrated Women’s Labour Union camped outside Government House yesterday. They are demanding that the government solve problems related to female workers and reform labour laws with workers’ participation.

Presiding over an event at the ministry to mark International Women's Day yesterday, permanent secretary Juthathawat Inthornsuksri said that of the about 35 million Thais of working age, about 17 million were women.

As they are just as capable as men, he said the ministry would ask employers to hire more women for traditionally male-dominated jobs, such as engineers and mechanics.

A study for the protection of women working in the service industry - such as masseuses, spa attendants and sex workers - would be conducted to bring them into the formal system. The ministry would ensure fair wages and social welfare for them, he added.

Padungsak Thephasdin, director-general of the Labour Protect-ion and Welfare Department, said he had instructed officials to check on labour-intensive enterprises prone to workers' rights violations, such as factories, to stop them from exploiting staff - especially women and children.

The ministry has proposed an amendment to the Labour Protection Act to ensure equal rights, welfare and wages to all workers and suppress sexual harassment at the workplace. The draft is now waiting Cabinet approval, he said.

Kyoko Kusakabe from the Asian Institute of Technology said research into "work and family life balance" conducted from in August and September 2005 found that low-paid workers were under tremendous pressure from long hours and overwhelming household expenses.

About 27 per cent of them were paid less than the minimum wage.

Arunee Sritho, from Women's Labour Union, said female workers had less time to spend with their families and urged the government to provide more child-care centres.