May 2, 2025, at 14.30 hours – Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, visited Phuket FantaSea Public Company Limited in Kathu District, Phuket, to inspect the management of migrant workers. This tourism-oriented company employs a diverse international workforce. The Minister encourages employers to hire legally and actively promote social security inclusion for migrant workers. He was accompanied by Mr. Siraphop Duangsodsri, Assistant to the Labour Minister, and Mr. Santi Nantasuwan, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour.
Mr. Phiphat emphasized that integrating migrant workers into the social security system is more than worker protection—it’s a key pillar for sustainable economic growth in tourist regions. Migrants in the system receive healthcare, compensation, and other legal benefits, while employers enjoy legal certainty, enhancing Phuket’s image as a world-class tourism destination.
At Phuket FantaSea, out of 902 employees, 195 are migrant workers (21.6%), all of whom are registered under Section 33 of the Social Security Act, demonstrating a model of legal and effective migrant labour management.
According to the Phuket Provincial Labour Office, there are currently over 135,000 registered migrant workers in Phuket. Of these, more than 120,000 are from four main countries: Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Most are progressing through the legal registration process via Cabinet-approved measures and bilateral MOUs.
Mr. Phiphat also stressed the importance of fair employment practices that do not infringe upon occupations reserved for Thai nationals. He listened to feedback from both employers and workers to refine labour policies tailored to Phuket’s economic context. Phuket is Thailand’s second most visited tourist city and home to Port Matchanu, the largest yacht marina in the region.
“We will continue our comprehensive migrant labour policy, covering registration, rights protection, and preservation of jobs for Thai workers, so that employment in Phuket remains sustainable, fair, and beneficial for all,” Mr. Phiphat concluded.
