Thai – 1st -SEZ
Chapter 3
3.2 Action plan for community, land, natural resources and the environment 3.2.1 Overview of the situation
The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand is assigned by the government to develop industrial estates in three Special Economic Zone (SEZ) areas in three provinces: Sa Kaeo Industrial Estate, Sa Kaeo Province, Sadao Industrial Estate, Songkhla Province, and industrial estates in the Special Economic Zone in Tak Province. Each industrial estate established has studied the impact on environment, economy, society and community through the preparation of the environmental impact assessment report and use it as a tool to create preventative and alleviative measures towards environmental impact and to monitor environmental quality. One of the measures requires factories in the industrial estates to pay attention to the importance of hiring local labour which will help reduce migrant labour problems. But if using migrant workers is a necessity, the operator should choose only registered ones. The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand used State land that has been correctly transferred without having to expropriate land from people to develop into an industrial estate in all three special economic zones.
3.2.2 Challenges
• Public participation. Although Thailand has many laws and measures that support community rights in natural resource management, from brainstorming for public opinion in the area and assessing the human rights situation of many organizations, challenges are still encountered in practice. Therefore, the suggestion on this point is to promote the participatory process by disclosing information about large-scale projects, special economic zones, or any projects to the public, especially stakeholders and communities that may be affected before acting.
• Special Economic Zones. The plan to establish 10 SEZs in 10 provinces and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) should be reviewed by assessing risk and the effects on all sides before making a decision. Opportunities for people should be arranged to be able to access to information as well as to be aware of the impact that may occur. Appropriate measures in land expropriation and decision-making on all 10 SEZ locations, including the EEC, should be set in accordance with UNGPs whereas the consultation and fair compensation for people living in SEZ and EEC areas should be provided. The SEZ and EEC should be determined to be equivalent to state enterprises which must comply with the highest standards of good governance and practices. The UNGPs should be included in the measures of establishment and management of SEZs and the EEC.
3.2.3 Action Plan (2019–2022)
Pillar 1: State duties in protecting (Protect)
| No. | Issues | Activities | Responsible Agencies | Time-frame (2019–2022) | Indicators (wide frame) | Compliance with National Strategy/ SDGs/UNGPs |
| 2 | Public participation | Disclose news and information to the people, especially the stakeholders and communities that may be affected, about areas affected by large-scale projects and special economic zones | Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council – Ministry of the Interior (Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning) – Ministry of Industry – Ministry of Transport | 2019-2022 | – Advertisements publicized on the projects both before, during and after the project implemented by letting the public get information thoroughly – Increase distribution channels of information about the project for the public, in particular, stakeholders – Organize a meeting to hear opinions of people in all areas affected by projects | National Strategy for Eco-Friendly Development and Growth- SDG 9, 11, 13, 14 and 15- UNGPs Articles 1, 3, 5 and 7 |
| 4 | Special Economic Zones | Consider appropriate measures for land expropriation, including measures for consultation and compensation for those affected by fair expropriation | Ministry of Transport – Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment – Office of the National Economic and Social Council- Ministry of Industry | 2019-2022 | Appropriate measures for land expropriation along with fair compensation | – National Strategy for Eco-Friendly Development and Growth- National Strategy for Public Sector Rebalancing and Development- SDG 11, 13, 14, 15 and 16- UNGPs Articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 31 |
| 4 | Special economic Zones | Consider making guidelines or measures for Special Economic Zones (SEZs), including the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) so they adhere to the highest standards of good governance and the guideline of the corporations while the commitment to implement UNGPs should be reflected in the establishment and management of the SEZ and EEC | – Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council – Ministry of Commerce – Ministry of Industry – Ministry of Interior (Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning) | 2019-2022 | Guidelines and measures for the Special Economic Zones (SEZs), including the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) to comply with the highest standards of good governance and UNGPs | – National Strategy for Eco-Friendly Development and Growth- National Strategy for Public Sector Rebalancing and Development- SDG 11, 13, 14 and 15- UNGPs Articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 31 |
3.4 Action Plan on Cross Border Investment and Multinational Enterprises
3.4.3 Action Plan (2019–2022)
| No. | Issues | Activities | Responsible Agencies | Time-frame (2019–2022) | Indicators (wide frame) | Compliance with National Strategy/ SDGs/UNGPs |
| 1 | Amendments of laws, regulations, policies and related measures | Create channel to disclose information about the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project, including all borders, economic zones and mechanisms to discuss with affected communities | – Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council – Neighbouring Countries’ Economic Development Corporation Agency (Public Organization)- Ministry of Interior- Ministry of Industry – Board of Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) | 2019-2022 | Created channel to disclose information about Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project, including all borders, economic zones and mechanisms to discuss with affected communities | National Strategy for National Competitiveness Enhancement- National Strategy for Eco Friendly Development and Growth- National Strategy for Public Sector Rebalancing and Development- SDG 8 and 16 – UNGPs Articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 |