Thailand’s cabinet approved the Baku Declaration on Human Development on April 21, preparing to sign at the 82nd ESCAP session on April 24.
The pledge is not legally binding, but it commits to “leave no one behind” across all ages, including people with disabilities. It emphasizes quality employment, digital skills, and regional cooperation. Prime Minister Anutin stressed “people-centered development.”
Still, only 6.8% of working-age Thais with disabilities have jobs. The one-per-100 hiring quota has been law since 2007, yet enforcement remains weak. Many organizations choose to pay into a fund rather than hire. Concrete national policy has yet to follow.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities