June 9, 2026, at 09.00 hours local Swiss time – Mr. Julapun Amornvivat, Minister of Labour, led the Thai delegation to the Asia-Pacific Regional Group (ASPAG) Ministerial Meeting, hosted by Bangladesh, alongside ministers and delegation heads from Asia-Pacific member countries. Also attending were Mr. Surachat Thientong, Secretary to the Labour Minister, Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharak, Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Somchai Morakotsriwan, Director-General of the Department of Employment, Mr. Samat Pattamasukon, Director-General of the Department of Skills Development, Ms. Thidarath Yingcharoen, Adviser to the Labour Minister, Mr. Sakdinat Sonthisakyothin, Assistant Permanent Secretary of Labour, Ms. Sadudee Kittisuwann, Director of the Bureau of International Cooperation Coordination, Ms. Chayanan Chatmat, Minister Counsellor (Labour), Permanent Mission in Geneva. The meeting was held at the United Nations building in Geneva, Switzerland.
Mr. Julapun delivered a keynote address addressing his vision on the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), which is transforming the world of work. He emphasised that Thailand regards AI as an opportunity for national development, alongside improving the quality of life for workers. He presented five key strategic priorities of the Ministry of Labour: 1) Social Security Reform: Modernising the system through professional management and a pension calculation formula known as CARE, to ensure long-term security; 2) Future Skills Development: Driven by the principle of “AI for All” and a policy of providing study grants with guaranteed job placement upon graduation, to produce internationally competitive professionals; 3) Reskilling and Upskilling: Accelerating skills development programmes to prevent redundancies arising from skills mismatches, while also strengthening occupational health and safety standards; 4) Labour Market Structural Reform: Promoting overseas employment opportunities and developing effective, rights-respecting migrant worker management systems; and 5) Platform and Gig Worker Advancement: Developing data infrastructure and creating social protection tailored to workers across all employment models.
“The ultimate goal of these strategies is to overcome the various challenges before us and propel Thailand towards a sustainably growing economy, with decent jobs, stable incomes, and dignified work. Thailand stands ready to work with ASPAG members and the International Labour Organization (ILO) to achieve our shared vision of a better future of work,” Mr. Julapun said.
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