August 4, 2025, 11.30 hours – Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary of Labour, presided over the opening ceremony of the Workshop for Officials in the Prevention and Suppression of Forced Labour or Services and Labour Trafficking for Fiscal Year 2025. Also in attendance were Ms. Bubpha Rueangsud, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Pichet Thongpan, the Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-General, Ms. Kornjirat Phongchanthorn, Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Sakdinart Sonthisakyotin, Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Pongthep Phetsoms, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Labor Protection and Welfare. Ms. Nomita Wyant, Inspector-General of the Social Security Office, along with executives, officials from the Office of the Permanent Secretary of Labour, and guests. Ms. Sopana Boon-Long, Director of the Office of the Secretariat of the Labour Trafficking Prevention Command Center, delivered the report. The event took place at the Grand Panorama Room, 14th Floor, The Emerald Hotel, Bangkok.
Mr. Boonsong stated that he was honored to preside over the opening of this important workshop for officials working on the prevention and suppression of forced labour, forced services, and labour trafficking. The government and the Ministry of Labour attach great importance to solving labour issues, especially forced labour, the worst forms of child labour, and labour trafficking. These are not only humanitarian issues but also critical factors affecting the country’s global image. He explained that the seminar aims to enhance knowledge, skills, and accurate understanding of laws, policies, and operational standards, focusing on professional inspection, screening, and prosecution, aligned with the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and international standards. The goal is to elevate Thailand’s efforts towards achieving Tier 1 status in the U.S. Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report.
Mr. Boonsong also expressed his appreciation to the Secretariat Office of the Labour Trafficking Command Center, the speakers, and all sectors involved in organizing the workshop. He encouraged participants to apply the knowledge effectively in their duties. At the same time, he launched the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on preliminary screening to identify potential victims of labour exploitation, forced labour, or labour trafficking under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act B.E. 2551 and its amendments, Section 6/1.
A total of 81 participants attended the workshop, consisting of 76 officials from the regional Office of the Permanent Secretary of Labour and five officials from the central office.
