Network for Thai Massage Professionals
– A joint statement
A shared position in support of professional dignity and respect.
This network has emerged from the real-life experiences of professional Thai massage practitioners in Sweden. It represents cooperation, responsibility, and dignity.
Guiding statement for the network
The Network for Thai Massage Professionals in Sweden
The association’s statutes constitute the formal framework for our work and define the association’s purpose, structure, and working methods. They ensure that all activities are conducted in a transparent and legally sound manner, and in accordance with applicable Swedish legislation.
The statutes serve as a fundamental safeguard to ensure that the association’s work is not dependent on individual persons, but is instead based on shared principles that all members and stakeholders can relate to and uphold.
The document below serves as the legal foundation for the association’s activities and provides an overview of its structure and internal functions.
WHO WE ARE
The Network for Thai Massage Professionals in Sweden was established to promote a clear, accurate, and responsible understanding of professional practice in Thai massage, based on human dignity, professional ethics, and applicable legislation.
The network is a non-profit collaborative platform for professionals in Thai massage who wish to work in a responsible and safe manner, with respect for the cultural values of the Thai massage tradition within Swedish society.
We are not a certification or supervisory body for individual businesses. Instead, membership in the network is based on shared responsibility, whereby each member commits to upholding the jointly established ethical principles for quality, safety, and compliance with applicable legislation.
The network’s work is based on dialogue, knowledge development, and professional accountability, in line with established practices in Swedish society, where professionals are expected to take responsibility for their own conduct and professional practice.
VISION
For Thai massage professionals to be able to speak about their profession with pride, and to be met with respect and equality — free from prejudice and generalisations in Swedish society.
THE NETWORK’S MISSION
The network works to:
promote professional ethics and proper professional practice within Thai massage
protect the dignity and professional reputation of practitioners
create safe and respectful forums for the exchange of experiences
support accurate and mutual understanding between massage businesses, clients, and society
work constructively in cooperation with various stakeholders in society, without taking a confrontational or antagonistic role
SHARED VALUES
The network is based on the following fundamental principles:
HUMAN DIGNITY
All people have the right to be treated with equal respect and dignity.
HONESTY AND TRANSPARENCY
We communicate in a factual and responsible manner, without misleading, distorting facts, or creating false expectations.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR CULTURE AND TRADITION
We respect the values of Thai massage and work to ensure that the culture is not misused or exploited.
RESPECT FOR SWEDISH LEGISLATION
All professional practice shall take place in accordance with applicable laws, safety requirements, and relevant professional standards.
EQUALITY AND COOPERATION
We promote respectful interaction, safety, and mutual understanding in encounters between different cultures.
THE NETWORK’S POSITION STATEMENT
The network is committed to the following principles:
PROMOTING ETHICAL AND RESPECTFUL THAI MASSAGE
We work to ensure that Thai massage is practised with professional ethics, professionalism, and respectful treatment.
OPPOSING GENERALISATIONS AND MISLEADING ASSOCIATIONS
We distance ourselves from generalising the profession of Thai massage or linking it to illegal activities.
STANDING AGAINST HARASSMENT, OFFENCES, AND PREJUDICE
We oppose all forms of harassment, degrading behaviour, and discriminatory attitudes.
CORRECT AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF THE TERM “THAI MASSAGE”
We support the correct use of the term “Thai massage”, in accordance with its cultural values and origins.
A CONSTRUCTIVE AND NON-CONFRONTATIONAL APPROACH
We work in a constructive manner and strive for dialogue and cooperation, without attacking or competing with other organisations.
FRAMEWORK FOR THE NETWORK’S WORK AND MEMBERSHIP
Members of the network are professionals and businesses within Thai massage who express a willingness to join the network and commit to following the jointly established ethical guidelines.
The network does not carry out supervision, certification, or quality control of individual members.
Instead, membership is based on professional self-responsibility, where each member is expected to conduct their work in accordance with professional ethics, applicable legislation, and with respect for the cultural values of the Thai massage tradition.
Through shared principles, dialogue, and knowledge development, the network works to strengthen responsibility, awareness, and the long-term protection of the profession’s dignity and cultural integrity.
APPLICATION AND PARTICIPATION IN THE NETWORK
Participation in the network is voluntary.
Members are expected to take personal responsibility and confirm that their professional activities are conducted in accordance with applicable legislation and the network’s shared ethical guidelines.
The network reserves the right to temporarily suspend or terminate a membership if there are legitimate grounds, in accordance with the guidelines and principles established by the network.
A SAFE SPACE FOR SHARING INFORMATION
The network provides a safe opportunity to share information and experiences anonymously, in order to contribute to a better understanding of structural challenges in society.
The information shared is not used to single out or assign blame to individual persons or businesses, and does not replace the responsibilities of public authorities or legal processes.
The purpose is to gather insights that can form a basis for dialogue, knowledge development, and a more nuanced public conversation about the profession of Thai massage and its conditions in Sweden.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
THIS NETWORK IS NOT A QUALITY LABEL.
This network is not a quality label or a certification,
but an expression of a shared commitment to responsibility.
A commitment to safeguarding the dignity of the profession,
respecting the depth of its cultural roots,
and building understanding through dialogue – step by step,
together with society.
