Of the 60 000 Thai people who live in Sweden, 75% are women.1, 2 Many immigrants from Thailand have a limited knowledge of Sweden and find it difficult to integrate into Swedish society. They are often unaware of their rights, and many are exploited in their workplace, or are victims of domestic violence.3 1. Royal Thai Embassy, Stockholm 2. SCB 3. ThaiWISE
ThaiWISE is changing this.
ThaiWISE is a hub that connects Thai women with the wider Swedish society, informs them of their rights and the services available to them, and provides guidance and training that help them work and live in Sweden. At ThaiWISE, our work is built upon four fundamental pillars: prevention, protection, professionalism, and policy & advocacy.
1. PREVENTION
ThaiWISE works closely with the Swedish Embassy in Thailand to reduce the risks for Thai women who plan to immigrate to Sweden. Visa applicants are informed of their rights in Sweden, and offered online courses to help them immigrate safely and integrate into Swedish society when they arrive. Additionally, we collaborate with the Malmö Municipality to provide a social orientation course specifically for Thai people.
”ThaiWISE provides reliable information that we need to be able to live in Sweden. Ten years ago, when I came to Sweden, it was much harder to find information.” —Participant in ThaiWISE’s annual workshop, 2021
2. PROTECTION
We create a safety net for women who are at risk of exploitation or abuse. The ThaiWISE Call Centre provides information, counselling, and guidance to Thai people in need. More than 95% of callers are female, and many of them are victims of domestic violence. Our cultural and linguistic knowledge enables us to build trust and communicate easily, which means we can assist these women and connect them to other protective agencies.
”ThaiWISE has helped open the door to Sweden and it’s society.” —Participant in ThaiWISE’s Social Orientation course
3. PROFESSIONALISM
We are raising the standard of Nuad Thai (traditional Thai massage) in Sweden.
ThaiWISE offers:
- Training in Nuad Thai
- Business training for start-ups
- Individual business management coaching
- Training on workers’ rights
- Information to help you comply with Swedish laws and regulations
- Official certification
Our certification programme equips business owners with the information they need to follow Swedish laws and regulations. Clients of a certified salon can be sure that employees of the salon are treated fairly and are properly trained in Nuad Thai. We empower the women who run and work in these salons and create a positive image of Nuad Thai amongst the general public.
”Thanks to ThaiWISE we are a certified massage salon. We understand Swedish laws and regulations and know how to run our business properly. We are very proud to be ThaiWISE’s flagship salon at the Nuad Thai Nordic Center.” —Mali and Fern, owners of Ayurvedic Nuad Thai
4. POLICY & ADVOCACY
We research and communicate the issues that are relevant to Thai people in Sweden.
ThaiWISE is a bridge between service seekers and service providers. As part of our mission to empower Thai women in Sweden, we seek to communicate the concerns of this group to Swedish authorities, services and institutions.
We partner with educational institutions to conduct research on issues that affect Thais living in Sweden. We also communicate with policy makers, raising awareness of the issues that vulnerable populations face.
”I have taken part in several of ThaiWISE’s activities, and this has enabled me to find work.” —Participant in ThaiWISE’s Social Orientation course
Contact us – ThaiWISE is here for you!
Are you:
- planning to move to Sweden?
- living in Sweden but isolated from Swedish society?
- part of the Thai massage industry?
- mistreated by your boss or partner?
We provide support and information to Thai people in Sweden. We are here to answer your questions.
Our call center answers questions about life in Sweden, as well as guiding Thai people through difficult situations.
If you experience violence, threats or assault we can provide counselling and direct you to organisations that can help you. We also assist people who are treated unfairly in their workplace. Callers can remain anonymous.
Call center +46 76 035 32 78
Open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10:00 – 16:00
You can also contact us via:
- Facebook: ThaiWISE Malmö
- LINE: ThaiWISE
- Email: contact@thaiwise.se
Also, our Training & Certification center http://nuadthai.se
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is behind ThaiWISE?
The ThaiWISE project is an initiative of Hela Människan in Malmö, run in collaboration with, and with funding from, the Malmö Municipality. We also collaborate with and are supported by the Royal Thai Embassy and Socialstyrelsen. ThaiWISE aims to reduce labour exploitation and victimization of Thai women in Sweden, particularly among those in Thai massage industry.
How did ThaiWISE start?
The ThaiWISE project began by surveying Thai massage parlor employees in Malmö. It aimed to address the limited understanding of Thai women migrating to Sweden to work in Thai massage parlours existing in many cities. Working in these parlours often lead to isolation and exploitation, impacting health, self-esteem, and integration into Swedish society due to language barriers.
What are a few of the activities that ThaiWISE carries out?
In collaboration with the Thai Embassy, developed a user-friendly guide to unemployment insurance for those who have become unemployed as a result of COVID-19. The guidebook was launched through an online seminar and via social media.
Regular online courses are organised whose content is adapted from the same content provided through the Social Orientation. The aim is to give participants a basic overview of Swedish society. This activity is also organised in cooperation with the Thai Embassy, which markets the course and welcomes the participants through a video greeting.
Has developed an information pack which is available on the project website. Includes information on safe migration procedures and integration, how Swedish society works, list of support organisations in Sweden.
Has set up a call center where people from the target group can call for information on, for example, residence permits, how different authorities work and what applies in relation to Covid-19.
Has developed and implemented a mother tongue-based SFI course with a Thai teacher. Hyllie Park in Malmö and Gothenburg, which is included as a partner, also offers lessons at the weekend. This helps ensure that those who cannot attend during the weekdays due to work are given the opportunity. This initiative will be further developed in 2021.
Who are some of your partners?
We co-operate with
