August 1, 2025, 10.00 hours – Mr. Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit, Minister of Labour, presided over the opening ceremony of the Bangkok Labour Volunteer Capacity Enhancement Project to advance the Ministry of Labour’s missions. He also outlined the Ministry’s strategic direction for the fiscal year 2026 and presented plaques to 10 Bangkok Labour Volunteer Coordination Centers. The event was attended by Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary of Labour, who delivered the report, along with other senior executives of the Ministry of Labour at Miracle Grand Rooms A and B, 4th Floor, Miracle Grand Convention Hotel, Bangkok.
Mr. Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit, Minister of Labour, expressed his appreciation to Bangkok labour volunteers for their dedication and selflessness in supporting the Ministry of Labour’s work. He emphasized that all volunteers serve as vital intermediaries, connecting labour services from the Ministry of Labour to the people, and are an essential network closest to communities in disseminating the labour missions. These missions include employment promotion, skills development, vocational training, labour protection, and social security. Volunteers also play a key role in drug prevention campaigns within communities, particularly in workplaces or small shops employing fewer than 10 workers. Each volunteer serves a term of three years. Currently, there are 7,795 labour volunteers nationwide, with Bangkok having begun operations in 2024. The city has three volunteers per subdistrict, totaling 540 volunteers.
Mr. Pongkawin further stated that in the fiscal year 2026, labour volunteers will be tasked with communicating and delivering labour-related services, including promoting employment and vocational training, protecting labour rights, supporting self-employed workers, encouraging the public to register under Social Security Act Sections 39 and 40 to gain benefits and secure protection, prevent labour trafficking, and alleviate occupational hardships. The target is to reach at least 263,490 people per year, which averages to 45 beneficiaries per volunteer annually.
The Labour Minister also stressed the importance of working under the policy “Ministry of Labour for Thai Labour Opportunities”, which includes Upgrading Thai workers, ensuring equal labour protection, “Learn to Earn”, encouraging students aged 15–18 (who are legally permitted to work) to earn income while studying, leading to real employment opportunities and nurturing “new entrepreneurs”, creating economic opportunities through raising minimum income levels, and urgently regulating foreign workers in Thailand. He noted that achieving these goals requires strong cooperation from all networks, which are a powerful force in disseminating knowledge and raising awareness among the public.
Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary of Labour, stated that Bangkok labour volunteers participating in this project will be informed of the Ministry of Labour’s strategic direction for the fiscal year 2026 under the framework “MOL TRUST: A United Labour Family”. This initiative will enhance knowledge and capacity to advance key missions of the Ministry of Labour at the community level in a unified manner. It will also serve as an opportunity to review and gather feedback on the operational guidelines for Bangkok labour volunteers, while fostering stronger relationships between Ministry officials and volunteers. Participants in the project included the Ministry of Labour’s executives, labour volunteer mentors, and Bangkok labour volunteers from all 50 districts, totaling approximately 500 participants.
