A Thai court ruled last month that the Rangsit Labour Union Group’s (RLUG) failure to provide 24-hours’ notice to police for their 2023 Mayday protest at Bangkok’s Government House was not a criminal offence.
The court examined evidence including documents and news photos, which showed that labour rallies have been a tradition since 1946. Since 2012, both government agencies and labour unions have collaborated on Mayday activities.
In Thailand, National Labor Day (Mayday) is designated as a traditional holiday under the Labor Protection Act. It’s not just a holiday but an opportunity for workers to express demands to the government and relevant parties. The International Labour Organization (ILO) recognises Mayday as a customary day for labour union activities.
Considering these factors, the court determined that Mayday aligns with the traditions and conventions outlined in Thailand’s assembly law. Therefore, they ruled that the organisers of the 2023 Mayday protest had not committed any offence.
