September 11, 2025, at 13.30 hours – Mr. Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit, Labour Minister, together with Mr. Jakkrapong Sumetchotimetha, Advisor to the Labour Minister, Mr Sutthikiat Weerakitpanich, and the Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson (politics affairs), paid respects to the sacred sites of the Ministry of Labour. These included Phra Phutthasuthithammabophit, Phra Phutthachinnarat, the Chai Mongkol Shrine, the Thao Maha Phrom Thewarit Shrine, and the Chinnapromma Shrine, on the occasion of his departure from office. Mr. Samat Pattamasukon, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, together with senior executives, civil servants, and staff from all affiliated agencies of the Ministry of Labour, presented flowers to express their gratitude and encouragement. The farewell ceremony took place at the main hall of the Ministry of Labour. On this occasion, the Minister of Labour expressed his appreciation to all staff members for their dedication and teamwork in advancing the Ministry of Labour’s missions in line with his policies. He said that during the 2 months and 7 days that he served in the role, although the period was short, they were able to drive forward policies, restructure the Ministry of Labour to be more modern and responsive to […]
August 25, 2025, 11.30 hours – Mr. Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit, Minister of Labour, welcomed the executive team of LINE MAN, led by Mr. Weerapong Goo, Managing Director, On-demand Service, and his delegation, for discussions on the protection and welfare of platform workers. Joining the meeting were Mr. Jakkrapong Sumetchotimetha, Advisor to the Minister of Labour, Mr. Sutthikiat Weerakitpanich, Chief Adviser to the Minister, Mr. Krirkrai Nasamoyon, Legal Advisor, Ms. Kornjirath Phongchanthasorn, Assistant Permanent Secretary of Labour, and senior executives of the Ministry of Labour. The meeting took place at Chatumongkol Room, 6th Floor, Ministry of Labour. The Labour Minister expressed his appreciation to LINE MAN for sharing information regarding the protection and support of riders, noting that LINE MAN has already provided accident insurance coverage for its riders during working hours. He added that he has proposed amendments to the Act on the Promotion and Protection of Self-Employed Workers to make participation voluntary. The timeframe for revising the legislation has been set for completion by the end of August. The Labour Minister emphasised that the Ministry of Labour is ready and willing to make adjustments that are consistent, practical, and beneficial […]
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 […]
July 14, 2025, 11.00 hours – Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary of Labour, welcomed Dr. Phot Aramwattananon, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, and his delegation for a discussion on collaboration between the Ministry of Labour and the Thai Chamber of Commerce in preparation for a Job Fair to be held as part of the Thailand-China Corporate Expo 2025. Also attending the meeting were representatives from the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Enterprise Trade Association, along with Mr. Somchai Morakotsriwan, Director-General of the Department of Employment, Ms. Niyada Saneeymanomai, Deputy Secretary-General of the Social Security Office, as well as executives and relevant agencies. The meeting took place at the Prasong Rananant Conference Room, 5th Floor, Ministry of Labour. The Permanent Secretary of Labour expressed full support for the initiative, noting that the Ministry of Labour is happy to collaborate as the event will play a key role in reducing unemployment and promoting domestic investment, both of which are directly linked to the country’s workforce. He assigned all departments under the Ministry of Labour to participate by setting up booths in line […]
June 11, 2025, 14.00 hours – Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour assigned Mr. Aree Krainara, the Secretariat to the Labour Minister, and Mr. Samat Pattamasukon, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, to represent the Ministry of Labour in receiving the body of the last deceased Thai hostage from the conflict in Israel. The delegation also laid a wreath in tribute. The event was attended by Ms. Chayika Wongnapachan, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Devora Dorsman Yarkoni, Deputy Chief of Mission, Israeli Embassy, and senior officials from the Ministry of Labour, held at the Suvarnabhumi Airport cargo terminal in Samut Prakan Province. Mr. Aree Krainara, the Secretariat to the Labour Minister, said that Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, had assigned him, along with the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour and senior executives from all agencies under the Ministry of Labour, to represent the ministry in receiving the Thai worker’s body, repatriated by the Thai Embassy and arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 14.00 hours. A wreath from the Minister of Labour was also presented to express condolences. Mr. Aree added that on June 9, the Ministry of […]
June 10, 2025, 7.45 hours local time, Geneva, Switzerland – Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, represented Thailand at the ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Breakfast Meeting and prepared to deliver a statement at the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) — a key milestone marking Thailand’s proactive role on the global labour stage in 2025. During the ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Breakfast Meeting, he held discussions with labour ministers and representatives from ASEAN member states, including Malaysia and Singapore, as well as ILO Director-General Mr. Gilbert Houngbo. All parties expressed appreciation to Malaysia for initiating “ASEAN Year of Skills 2025”, aimed at equipping the regional workforce to meet the challenges brought by AI, technological advancements, and the green economy. Later, at the 113th Session of the ILC, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, presented Thailand’s vision for workforce development under the theme “Jobs, Rights, and Growth”, reflecting this year’s ILO Director-General’s report. Joining the session were senior Thai labour officials, including Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary of Labour and the Director-Generals of the Departments of Employment, Skill Development, Labour Protection and Welfare, and the Secretary-General of the Social Security Office. […]
June 9, 2025, 18.00 hours local time, Geneva, Switzerland – Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, took part in a key mission at the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), the world’s leading tripartite labour forum. He witnessed Thailand’s official vote, represented by Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary of Labour, and Mr. Sakdinart Sonthisakyotin, Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour, who cast a vote on behalf of the government to approve the ILO’s work plan and budget. Also attending were Mr. Somchai Morakotsriwan, Director-General of the Department of Employment, Mr. Decha Pruksapatnarak, Director-General of the Department of Skill Development, Lieutenant Commander Saroj Khomkhai, the Director-General of the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, and Mrs. Marasri Jairangsi, the Secretary-General of the Social Security Office, Mr. Phiphat stated that key resolutions included approval of the 2026–2027 programme and budget, which prioritises international labour standards, the tripartite system, full and productive employment, sustainable enterprises, gender equality, equal opportunities, social protection, and digital transformation. The conference also endorsed the membership fee rates for the period. Mr. Boonsong concluded by saying that this vote reflects Thailand’s constructive role in shaping the […]
June 7, 2025 – Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, expressed his deep sorrow following the confirmation of another Thai worker’s death who had been held hostage during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. A report from Mr. Kittithana Srisuriya, Minister Counsellor (on Labour) at the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, stated that the Israeli military discovered the body of Mr. Nattapong Pinta, a 35-year-old worker originally from Phrae Province, in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. He had a wife residing in Nakhon Phanom. The Labour Minister, along with the Ministry of Labour’s executives, offered their condolences to the bereaved family. He confirmed that the Labour Attaché in Tel Aviv, Mr. Kittithana Srisuriya, has been instructed to urgently coordinate the processing of all entitled benefits with both Israeli authorities. In Thailand, the Department of Employment confirmed that Mr. Nattapong was a member of the Fund for Job Seekers Going to Work Abroad, and the Social Security Office verified that he was previously a registered, insured person, meaning his family would be entitled to relevant financial compensation. To provide moral support, Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary […]
June 8, 2025, 14.00 hours – Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, presided over the opening ceremony of the 37th National Occupational Health and Safety Fair, or Thailand Safe@Work 2025, under the theme “Fostering a Culture of Safety for a Sustainable Thai Society.” Mr. Nantachai Panyasurarit, the Director of the Thailand Institute Of Occupational Safety and Health (TOSH), delivered the opening report. Mr. Aree Krainara, the Secretariat to the Labour Minister, Mr. Phuchong Worasri, assigned to the Office of the Prime Minister and currently serving at the Ministry of Labour, Air Chief Marshal Athikun Kongmee, Advisor to the Minister on Illegal Worker Management, Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary of Labour, Dr. Kamthon Chipchai-Issara, Chairman of the TOSH Board, Ms. Bubpha Rueangsud, Mr. Samat Pattamasukon, and Mr. Santi Nantasuwan, the Deputy Permanent Secretaries of Labour, Acting Second Lieutenant Somsak Promdam and Ms. Jirapa Boonrat, the Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-Generals, and the Ministry of Labour’s executives joined the occasion. The event drew participation from business representatives, government agencies, educational institutions, and workers from across the country at the Phoenix Hall, IMPACT Exhibition Center, Halls 11–12, Muang Thong Thani. Mr. Phiphat reaffirmed that […]
May 15, 2025, 10.00 hours (KST) – Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, together with Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Somchai Morakotsriwan, Director-General of the Department of Employment, Mrs. Sirirat Srichart, Labour Minister-Counsellor at the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul, and delegation visited 119 newly arrived Thai workers at the Yeoju Training Center for New Foreign Workers, operated by the Korea Labour and Employment Foundation (KLEF) under South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labour. The visit aimed to show moral support on the workers’ first day of EPS training, following their arrival in South Korea the previous day. In a meeting with Mr. Park Jong-pil, Secretary-General of KLEF, Minister Phiphat discussed developing cooperation in promoting Thai workers and reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to sending workers who are skilled, knowledgeable, and disciplined. Mr. Phiphat stated that KLES (Korea Labour and Employment Service) is an agency under the Ministry of Employment and Labour of South Korea, with the primary responsibility of promoting international labour cooperation, managing the employment of foreign workers under the EPS system, and providing training for foreign workers who have just arrived in the country. This training […]
May 11, 2025 – Jeju, South Korea. Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, continues to advance international labour cooperation by holding bilateral meetings with Mr. Min-Suk Kim, Acting Minister of Employment and Labour of South Korea, and Mr. Steven Sim Chee Keong, Minister of Human Resources of Malaysia. These discussions took place ahead of the 2025 APEC Human Resource Development Ministerial Meeting (APEC HRDMM 2025), set to begin on May 12. Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Sakdinart Sonthisakyotin, Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mrs. Sirirat Srichart, Labour Minister-Counsellor at the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul, also joined the occasion. In talks with Mr. Min-Suk Kim, Acting Minister of Employment and Labour of South Korea, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to legal labour migration. They discussed expanding employment opportunities for Thai workers in service sectors such as restaurants, hotels, and elderly care areas currently experiencing labour shortages in South Korea. Mr. Kim acknowledged Thailand’s vision to elevate its labor force to international standards. Both countries agreed to strengthen collaboration in the legal migration programs, skills development, and protection of Thai workers’ rights in South Korea. South […]
Mr. Phumipat Mueanchan, the Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson, revealed that Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, is closely monitoring and expediting the work of the Trai Thep Phithak Special Task Force, which was established under the Labour Minister’s directive. The task force is tasked with inspecting employment conditions, labour practices, forced labour or services, and the worst forms of child labour among migrant workers. The aim is to combat illegal labor, prevent unauthorized occupation of Thai jobs, and address illegal immigration, as well as protect Thai workers’ rights. The initiative involves strict enforcement of labour-related laws by integrating efforts from three core departments: the Office of the Permanent Secretary of Labour, the Department of Employment, and the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare. It also involves collaboration with 11 other state agencies, including the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, the Royal Thai Police, the Military, and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), to conduct nationwide inspection operations. The Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson said that from December 18, 2024, to April 30, 2025, the Trai Thep Phithak Special Task Force conducted 20 inspection rounds, covering […]
On April 24, 2025, at 11.00 hours, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, signed the book of condolence on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, who passed away on April 21, 2025. The signing was in tribute to the Pope, the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the Vatican City State. Mr. Sakdinart Sonthisakyotin, Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour, along with senior executives of the Ministry of Labour, also took part in the signing ceremony held at the Apostolic Nunciature to Thailand, located in the Sathorn district of Bangkok.
Mr. Phumipat Mueanchan, the Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson, revealed that from a field visit to businesses in Surat Thani Province, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, praised Haadthip Public Company Limited, the Punpin Factory, for being a model of a company that takes quality care of the workforce. The company emphasizes “people” as the heart of the organization. It is free of illegal labour, supports the development of vocational skills, and also promotes workers’ welfare according to the principles of the sufficiency economy by aligning to the guidelines of the Ministry of Labour’s Good Labour Project, encouraging employees to have additional income, helps reduce expenses, and creates stability in daily life from growing vegetables, growing rice, and raising fish in the factory area. The Ministry of Labour’s spokesperson said that last year, over 172,000 employees benefited from the Good Labour Project under the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy. This group of people was able to consume their products at home and sell them in their communities to generate additional income, increasing their average income by 500-2,500 Baht per month, or a value of 115 million Baht from the project. The Ministry of […]
Mr. Phumipat Mueanchan, the Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson, revealed that Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, sent his best wishes to fellow workers in the formal sector and independent workers on the occasion of the Thai New Year or Songkran Day 2025. During this year’s festival, the Ministry of Labour has requested the cooperation of employers to allow their employees to take a break from work and stressed that drivers must not work over 8 hours per day, must not do more than 2 hours overtime and must have a 10-hour break between shifts, for the safety of the driver and all passengers. The Ministry of Labour will provide free vehicle inspections from April 11-17, 2025, at roadside service points under the concept of DSD Good Driving Before Traveling. They will distribute drinking water and safety stickers with the “Fill Your Heart, Safety on Every Route” activity and facilitate insured persons who are in an emergency to seek free treatment at the nearest hospital within 72 hours by using only their national ID card, linked to their social security benefits. The Ministry of Labour will also allow foreign workers from […]
Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, revealed that to support all groups of people and workers to travel back to their hometowns safely during the Songkran Festival 2025, the Ministry of Labour has integrated the work of all agencies under its jurisdiction to provide services to support both Thai workers, migrant workers, and employers so that they can travel with peace of mind, with rights, welfare, and safety on every route. Mr. Phiphat spoke about public service activities during Songkran 2025 by each department as follows: The Department of Employment has resolved to allow migrant workers from Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar who have valid work permits to travel back to visit their families during Songkran and return to work in Thailand without having to apply for a Re-Entry Permit. The grace period is April 1 to May 15, 2025. If workers return after May 15, they must re-apply for a permit according to the normal procedure. Employers and migrant workers have been instructed to strictly comply with the conditions and to return within the specified period so as not to lose their rights. The Department of Skill Development will provide […]
