Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s Government has pledged to continue working towards enhancing welfare benefits in an effort to raise the quality of lives of all workers in Thailand, according to spokesman Chai Wacharonke, reported by the Bangkok Post.

"The government is determined to push for regulations that will give workers more protection, because we realise that each worker is a driver of economic development," said Chai as cited by the Bangkok-based newspaper as saying.

Under the rules, which were published in the Royal Gazette on April 30, the working hours of a domestic worker must not exceed eight hours a day, and each worker is entitled to a minimum of an hour's break, as well at least three days of leave for personal reasons.

Workers can take up to 98 days of maternity leave, 45 days of which are paid. Termination of employment due to pregnancy is not allowed and forcing pregnant workers to work overtime, or between 10pm and 6am, is also prohibited.

Separately, the Thai labour minister has set up a working group to seek out new opportunities for workers in the informal sector, said the spokesman of the ministry Phumphat Muanchan.

Accඣording to him, about 20 million people are employed as informal workers, ranging from farmers, street vendors, subcontracted workers, and taxi drivers to delivery service riders. The Labour Ministry will propose a bill to provide more protection to them in li🎉ght of the changing economic environment./.