Thailand Culture and Society: Women in Business
General View
Thai women have dominated trade and commerce since before the modern era. Into the 21st century, about half of the country's workforce is women. Despite the mistaken perception of foreigners, especially Westerners, about Thailand’s notorious sex-trade industry, only a tiny number of Thai women work in the commercial sex industry.
Women’s increased access to higher education has led to a large number of Thai women in business, and they are poised to play a larger role in the rapidly growing Thai economy in the coming years.
Legal Rights
Thailand’s constitution guarantees women equal rights with men. The new constitution of 1997 specifically focuses on the equality of women and safeguards their rights.
Thai women were granted the right to vote in 1933. All children, both sons and daughters, inherit equally. Traditionally, the last child takes care of the parents in their old age and inherits the family home. Women have full rights to own and run businesses.
According to law, Thai women are entitled to equal pay and benefits for equal work. However, the main reason Thai women earn so much less than men is that most of them work in low-paying jobs while men dominate the more highly paid positions.
Women in Professions
Thai women have flourished in trade and commerce, considered the traditional domain of women. A large number of women at present have gravitated towards the clerical, teaching, and nursing fields, and the number of Thai women in professional and technical jobs now exceeds that of women in administrative positions.
Despite their major contribution to the economy of the country, Thai women hold relatively few senior management positions.
The laws forbid women from performing arduous and harmful work such as cleaning machinery or engines while in operation, working with circular saws, and working on high scaffolding. Laws also strictly prohibit employing unmarried women below 18 years of age in nightclubs, dance halls, dancing schools, bars, or massage parlors.
Working mothers seek the help of extended family members, especially grandparents, for childcare. Costly private day-care centers outnumber state-owned childcare centers in Thailand.
Women as Business Owners
Thailand has the highest level of entrepreneurship among women in the world, and Thais anticipate a steady increase in the number of women entrepreneurs. Higher levels of education have enhanced their entrepreneurial activities and improved the overall growth outlook for Thai women. Financial support given by the Thai government through the People’s Bank has augmented women’s entrepreneurial activities.
Generally, Thai businesswomen are engaged in weaving baskets and textiles, trading and marketing, and the service industry (beauty parlors, traditional Thai massage spas). Thai women often form small investment groups to finance their businesses.
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