1. What are the macro-level and cultural factors that mean Thai households employ domestic workers?
2. Why do Thai households employ migrants as domestic workers? Would it be preferable for them to employ Thai people in this capacity?
3. What is your assessment of the particular issues facing employers of domestic workers in private households?
4. What are the limitations and constraints on governments when it comes to protecting domestic workers and regulating domestic work?
5. Some of these are common to all governments. Could you tell me if there are particular factors constraining the Thai government?
6. Do you think trafficking is a particular problem in domestic work? Why (not)? Do you think anti-trafficking protections have any role to play in preventing the exploitation of domestic workers? Do you think some nationalities are more vulnerable than others? Why?
7. What is the process when a person is found to be a VoT (i.e. what is the role of the Ministry?)
8. When is a labour violation so severe that you would consider a worker to be forced? E.g.
a. Prevented from leaving the house
b. Not paid
c. Working excessive hours with no compensation
d. Threats of physical violence
9. How important is immigration status to trafficking? Do you think that difficulties of legal immigration status contribute to vulnerabilities in domestic work? For migrant workers, how are ‘regular’ labour violations to be distinguished from trafficking?
10. Do you have any thoughts on how the system of sponsorship of migrants can continue without restricting domestic workers’ ability to make complaints against employers?
11. Do you think it is appropriate to facilitate the inclusion of domestic workers under general gender protections such as one Stop Crisis Centres or the Domestic Violence Act? Why (not)? Would this be easier for Thai domestic workers than it would be for migrant domestic workers?
12. What is your assessment of the impact of Ministerial Regulation No.14 on the situation of domestic workers? What are the difficulties of enforcing this regulation and how can these be addressed?
13. What is your assessment of the impact of the National Verification process in general, and for migrant domestic workers in particular?
14. Do you think MOUs do or can assist in the protection of migrant workers in general? And of migrant domestic workers?
15. Research has found hostility to migrant workers in Thailand, what do you think are the reasons for this? How can this be addressed?
16. How can we foster good employment practices among employers?