Women yesterday called for more daycare centres for young children as well as paternal leave -- which is now offered only to men in the civil service -- to be extended to all working fathers of new-born babies.
The calls were made yesterday during a march in Bangkok by more than 500 workers led by a group of women rights activists to mark International Women's Day.
The march proceeded from Democracy Monument to the Education Ministry.
Thanaphon Wichan, president of the Women Workers Unity Group, said daycare centres, which are run by government agencies, close before mothers are able to get to them to pick up their children.
As a result, many mothers working in large cities including Bangkok are left with no choice but to send their children to their grandparents in their hometowns.
The women said they are simply unable to take care of the children themselves while having to work full time, Ms Thanaphon said.
She added there is still confusion over whether the eight leave days allowed by law for a pregnancy examination should be considered as leave with pay or without pay.
As for maternal leave, the law says the employer is liable to pay for the first 45 leave days and that the Social Security Fund covers the rest.
Ms Thanaphon also demanded that males working in the private sector be allowed to take a 90-day paternal leave. It is unclear who would have to pay.
Rachada Dhnadirek, a deputy government spokeswoman who met the demonstrators, said she would forward their demands to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for consideration.