On May 21, MP Passarin Ramwong (Kan) from the Prachachon Party posted on Facebook about a major step forward in menstrual and reproductive health rights for laborers in Thailand.
On May 7, 2025, the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare issued a nationwide directive supporting proposals for “menstrual leave with pay” and “sanitary pads as employee benefits,” initially submitted by the Northern Labour Network on International Migrants Day.
Kan expressed appreciation for the government’s initial policy-level acknowledgment of grassroots demands, emphasizing it proves that citizens’ voices can lead to real policy shifts.
She reiterated that both she and the Prachachon Party have consistently championed reproductive health rights, including access to free sanitary pads, menstrual leave, and comprehensive workplace reproductive health support.
During the recent International Workers' Day, the party’s labor network also unveiled a proposed labor protection bill focusing on:
- Job security – Transitioning from daily to monthly employment, increasing minimum wages in line with cost of living.
- Rest time – Limiting work hours to 40 per week and increasing paid leave.
- Human dignity at work – Prohibiting gender-based discrimination, guaranteeing 3 days/month menstrual leave without deducting sick leave, and mandating breastfeeding stations and free sanitary products at workplaces.
Though the directive currently “invites” employers to adopt the policies, Kan emphasized the importance of formalizing these rights through enforceable labor law reforms. She pledged to continue advocating for this transformation alongside civil society groups.
Notably, in 2023, Kan also raised a parliamentary question advocating for the removal of taxes on sanitary products during Srettha Thavisin’s term as Prime Minister, underscoring her long-standing commitment to menstrual equity.