US to review Thai trade benefits after labour complaint

US to review Thai trade benefits after labour complaint

Men and women exit a truck as they come back from work to a construction workers' camp made of steel containers in Samut Prakan. (AFP photo)
Men and women exit a truck as they come back from work to a construction workers' camp made of steel containers in Samut Prakan. (AFP photo)

WASHINGTON -- The United States will review Thailand's eligibility for trade benefits after complaints that the country is not properly protecting workers' rights, the US Trade Representative said.

US umbrella union group AFL-CIO said Thailand had breached standards under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which allows duty-free access for some imports, on a range of issues including acceptable conditions of work and forced labour.

USTR said in a statement it would hold a hearing in January on Thailand, and continue its work on GSP reviews of Fiji, Georgia, Iraq, Niger, Uzbekistan and Ecuador.

Thailand exported US$27.1 billion in goods to the United States in 2014, mainly machinery and electrical machinery.

The USTR closed a review of the Philippines after the country made progress in protecting workers' rights.

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