{
  "id": 19649687,
  "title": "Care gaps hold back Thai women’s employment",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/care-gaps-hold-back-thai-womens-employment",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T11:45:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Khaosod English",
    "slug": "khaosod-english",
    "url": "https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2026/11/12/care-gaps-hold-back-thai-womens-employment/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Thailand has made progress in girls' education and women's health, but these achievements have not yet led to equal economic opportunities, political leadership or personal safety for women, according to a recent UN report. While women in Thailand outpace men in tertiary education enrollment, female labor force participation remains low at 58.9 per cent, well below men's 74.7 per cent. The primary obstacle to women's employment is unpaid care work, with 87.3 per cent of working-age women citing domestic and caregiving responsibilities as reasons for not participating in the labor market.\n\nThe report, launched at the Sustainability Expo 2026 in Bangkok, highlights the need to address barriers women face at home, work, and in public life. Gender-based violence and underrepresentation in decision-making are also major concerns. Only 19.8 per cent of women hold seats in the House of Representatives and 22.5 per cent in the Senate following the February 2026 elections.\n\nTo tackle these issues, the Thai government is implementing various initiatives. The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) is advancing gender-responsive budgeting and proposing a family leave policy that would allow men to take leave for caregiving duties. They are also launching professional care training programs and a \"one tambon, one caregiver\" initiative to support families with elderly dependents.\n\nThe private sector is taking action as well. Retailer CLP Axtra Plx has set a target of 60 per cent women-owned suppliers and offers online sourcing portals for female farmers and entrepreneurs. Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) is working on a national definition for women-owned enterprises to facilitate better tracking of credit and market access programs for female entrepreneurs.\n\nDespite these efforts, the report emphasizes the importance of data-driven action to reach marginalized groups, including rural women, migrant workers, LGBTQI+ individuals, and women with disabilities.",
  "summary": "Thailand’s strong gains in girls’ education and maternal health have yet to translate into equal economic opportunities, political leadership or personal safety for women, according to the Thailand Country Gender Equality Profile 2026 launched by the United Nations at the Sustainability Expo 2026 (SX2026) in Bangkok. Produced jointly by the UN in Thailand, UN Women […] The post Care gaps hold…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}