Mr. Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit, Labour Minister, announced that from July 4 to September 4, 2025, marking his first 60 days in office, he and his team have worked tirelessly to implement policies aimed at improving the well-being of Thai workers and the public, while positioning Thailand to stand on par with other nations. The six key achievements are as follows:
- Launch of Fit4Work: A groundbreaking labour training curriculum designed to meet employer demand, reduce unemployment, and increase incomes. In collaboration with GSPA NIDA, the programme upgrades workforce skills for the digital era, creating an AI-ready workforce that matches labour market needs, improves quality of life, and supports Thailand’s path towards becoming a leader in a sustainable digital economy.
- Promotion of the Learn to Earn initiative: A programme enabling young people to learn, earn an income, and secure employment after completion. This provides students with opportunities to discover their potential, generate additional revenue, ease family burdens, and reduce graduate unemployment.
- Development of AI and Data Centre curricula, in partnership with leading global companies including Dell, Microsoft, and Huawei.
- Facilitation of an MoU between the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Department of Skill Development, and the Thai Chamber of Commerce to jointly develop digital skills and enhance the Thai workforce to meet labour market demands in the digital era.
- Addressing labour shortages caused by unrest along the Thai–Cambodian border by allowing Cambodian workers with border passes to work in border areas, while promoting the employment of additional foreign workers, such as Sri Lankans. The Ministry of Labour is also considering allowing displaced persons from Myanmar residing in nine temporary shelters across four provinces (Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kanchanaburi, and Ratchaburi), already registered by the Department of Provincial Administration, to remain in Thailand under special permission to work for up to one year from the date of authorisation. Relevant regulations under the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Interior are currently being drafted.
- Establishment of a working group to draft the Act on the Promotion and Protection of Independent Workers (B.E. …) to safeguard self-employed workers, including riders. The draft law will be informed by consultation with independent workers across sectors, aiming to create fair and inclusive protections while promoting social equity and laying stronger foundations for the national economy.
Mr. Pongkawin stressed that as Minister of Labour, he has been proactive in visiting local areas, listening to concerns, and swiftly addressing issues. He reaffirmed his commitment to continue working for the people, ensuring workers enjoy a better quality of life, secure employment, and fair protection of rights. He expressed his gratitude to all workers, civil servants, and partners across sectors for their dedication and collaboration in realising these initiatives. Many projects, he highlighted, required no additional government budget, but instead relied on integrated cooperation with external organisations, particularly in education and the private sector.
He further emphasised that although his tenure has only just begun, he is confident the Ministry of Labour has planted the seeds for transformation, from being viewed as a “Ministry of Hard Labour” to becoming the true “Ministry of Human Resources” of Thailand, dedicated to improving the lives of workers at every level.
