2024 Conference

Images by the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University

The Asian Society of Labour Law (AsianSLL) conducted its 2024 Conference, with the theme “Business Corporate Responsibility and Workers’ Rights”, in partnership with and held at the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, on 7-8 November 2024.

The conference is part of the AsianSLL’s objectives to promote and engage in research, education, policy reform, and practice of labour law by serving as a centre of activities among labour law scholars and practitioners in Asia and elsewhere, in a spirit of partnership, and to develop linkages with other relevant international, regional, national, and local societies, organizations, and networks.

The conference opened with welcoming remarks from Professor Emeritus Vitit Muntarbhorn of Chulalongkorn University, a former member of  ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of  Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR), and UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of  human rights in Cambodia.  Professor Muntarbhorn shared the importance of freedom of association and labour rights in Thailand.

AsianSLL President Professor Dr Chin-Chin Cheng then gave opening remarks.

The keynote speech was delivered by Justice Vichai Ariyanuntaka, Former Chief Justice of the Central Labour Court of Thailand.  Justice Ariyanuntaka shared his experience in handling labour cases.

Images by the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University

Six panel sessions then followed over two days, during which labour law professors, practitioners, scholars, students and anyone who is interested in the field of labour law – especially those with a focus on labour law in Asia – presented their research.

Session 1: Human Rights and International Labor Law was chaired by Professor Emeritus Vitit Muntarbhorn.

• “Business and Human Rights Promoted by Trade Unions in Japan” by Emeritus Professor Kozo Kagawa, Kobe University, Japan

• “Human rights due diligence soft laws as instruments to achieve social justice at work” by Professor Dr Shinichi Ago, Kyushu University, Japan

• “Human Rights Due Diligence Law: Problematic Institutional Design for GVC regulation, with analysis of EU CSDDD” by Professor Hisashi Harata, Graduate School of Law and Politics, University of Tokyo, Japan

Images by the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University

Session 2: Labor Law in Transition: Perspectives from the Modern World was chaired by Professor Patricia R.P. Salvador Daway, University of the Philippines.

• “Microtask + (Plus): Is Upskilling More Effective than AI Regulation to Protect Global South Digital Workers from the AI Race to the Bottom?: Proposed Measures to Prevent the Rise of Digital Sweatshops in the Philippine Context” by Attorney Liwayway Arce-Rodriguez, MAD Institute, New York and Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation, Manila.

• “Just Transition beyond Ethics and Grace: Setting up a Philippine Labor and Social Protection Legal Framework for At-risk Workers in Business-driven Green Transitions” by Attorney Jayvy Gamboa, University of the Philippines College of Law / Klima Center, Manila Observatory, Philippines

• “Forging Human Rights by Breaking Chains: Addressing Modern Slavery in Supply Chains with Special Focus on Regulatory Framework in India” by Doctoral Researcher Shubham Sharma, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, India

Images by the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University

Images by the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University

Session 3: Gig economy – Digitalization and Labor (1) was chaired by Professor Emeritus Liu Cheng, Shanghai Normal University

• “Protecting workers against ‘the strictest algorithm’ (最严算法)” by Professor Dr Piotr Grzebyk, University of Warsaw, Poland

• “Discussions and Practices on the Legal Status of Platform Workers in South Korea” by Professor Dr Hochang Roh, Hoseo University, South Korea

• “Labor rights in the context of the gig economy in Vietnam” by Professor Dr Nguyen Le Thu, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam

Images by the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University

Session 4: Gig economy – Digitalization and Labor (2) was chaired by Associate Professor Dr Panthip Pruksacholavit, Chulalongkorn University

• “Gig Economy: Between Flexibility and Uncertainty, A Reflection on the Future of Work in Indonesia” by Muhammad Ilman Abidin, Lecturer, Universitas Islam Bandung, Indonesia

• “The challenges and development of platform worker protection in Taiwan” by Associate Professor Dr Boshone Fu, National Taipei University, Taiwan

• “Revisiting Employment Relations in the Gig and Platform Economy” by Professor Dr Kingshuk Sarkar, Area Chair at the Goa Institute of Management Centre for Public Policy and Governance, India

Images by the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University

Session 5: Building Better Societies: Social Justice and Social Dialogue was chaired by Professor Rick Glofcheski, University of Hong Kong

• “A Study on Eldercare Leave in Taiwan’s Labor Law System” by Professor Dr Yueh Hung Hou, Dean, National Taipei University College of Law, Taiwan

• “Advancing Social Justice: Challenges in Developing Asian Countries and Role of Social Dialogue” by Arun Kumar, International Labour Organization, Bangkok

Images by the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University

Session 6: Workplace Violence and Harassment was chaired by Professor Dr Chin-Chin Cheng, National Chung-Cheng University, and AsianSLL President

• “The integration of gender perspective into labour judgments: A comparative analysis in Chile and Latin America, applying international standards with a focus on ILO Convention 190” by Professor Ingrid Kiessling, Universidad Gabriel Mistral, Chile

• “Workplace Violence against LGBTQ+ Workers in India” by Karan Singh Tomar, Student, National Law University, Delhi, India

• “The New Gender Equality in Employment Act and Employer's Obligations for Preventing Sexual Harassment in Taiwan” by Assistant Professor Guan-Chiau Chiou, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taiwan

• “Protection of Women Workers from Sexual Harassment At Workplace Laws In The South Asian Association For Regional Cooperation Nations:  A Comparative Analysis” by Associate Professor Dr Jeet Singh Mann, National Law University, Delhi, India

Images by the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University

The end of day 1 was marked by a welcome dinner, with a greeting speech by Assistant Professor Dr Pareena Srivanit, Dean, Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University, and society greetings by Professor Dr Shinichi Ago, Founder of the AsianSLL.

Cultural performances also graced the welcome dinner.

Images by the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University

The AsianSLL then conducted its General Meeting and Executive Council (EC) Meeting, during which the possibility of conducting the 2025 conference in Vietnam and the election of the EC members for 2024-26 was discussed, among others.