March 10, 2026 – Ms. Trinuch Thienthong, Minister of Labour, revealed that the Cabinet has approved an extension of the deadline for renewing work permits for more than 370,000 migrant workers from Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam until March 31, 2026, from the previous deadline of February 24, 2026. This measure aims to prevent these workers from falling out of the system and becoming undocumented, as well as to avoid disruptions to businesses and the labour market, particularly to the country’s economic momentum. The Labour Minister further explained that the Cabinet resolution also extends the deadline for passport preparation or substitute travel documents, as well as for visa processing, from June 24, 2026, to July 31, 2026. As a result, the affected workers will be granted temporary relief once the relevant notifications from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour come into force. In the meantime, employers and businesses with workers of these three nationalities are advised to follow updates on the Ministry of Labour website at www.mol.go.th and the Department of Employment website at www.doe.go.th, or […]
February 23, 2026 – Ms. Trinuch Thienthong, Minister of Labour, held a press conference announcing the Outstanding Working Women Awards on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2026. Joining the event were Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharak, Permanent Secretary of Labour, Ms. Bubpha Rueangsud, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Pichet Thongphan and Mr. Sibmuenchai Phothisin, Inspector-Generals of the Ministry of Labour, Mr. Krirkrai Nasamoyon, Legal Advisor, Mr. Seksit Sawanyathipat, Assistant Permanent Secretary of Labour, and executives of the Ministry of Labour. During the event, 33 Outstanding Working Women for 2026 were introduced as role models from various fields, including Suvara Tawichasri, Governor of the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (Outstanding Female State Enterprise Executive), Patimoh Sadiyamu, Governor of Pattani Province (Outstanding Female Government Executive), Maleewan Jameena, Outstanding Female Artist, Sompratana Nawong, owner of the “Ejan” page (Outstanding Female Media Professional), Nattakanya Saengpho, Outstanding Female Private Sector Executive, and Naree Samratnakul, Outstanding Female Private Sector Practitioner. The awards aim to honour their achievements and inspire women across the country. The Labour Minister stated that the Ministry of Labour places importance on creating “decent work […]
Ms. Trinuch Thienthong, Minister of Labour, disclosed following a meeting with Ms. Kanchana Poolkaew, Secretary-General of the Social Security Office (SSO), that the meeting was intended to accelerate SSO management’s efforts to ensure the SSO Core system operates at full efficiency. She emphasised that all parties must urgently resolve issues across all IT systems currently used by the Social Security Office, with the interests of insured persons and the alleviation of their hardship as the highest priority. The Labour Minister stated that she had received a report from the Secretary-General of the Social Security Office confirming that the data of all 24.5 million insured persons has now been successfully transferred from the previous system into the new SSO Core system. External IT specialists and academic experts have also been brought in to help assess the system and resolve outstanding issues by the end of February. Ms. Trinuch added that she has also instructed the Secretary-General of the Social Security Office to expedite the transfer of outstanding unemployment compensation payments to insured persons as quickly as possible to alleviate […]
January 16, 2026 – Ms. Trinuch Thienthong, Minister of Labour, presided over the opening of JOB EXPO THAILAND 2026, the country’s largest job fair of the year, under the theme “every job, for every lifestyle.” The event was honoured by Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharak, Permanent Secretary of Labour, and Acting Sub-Lieutenant Somsak Prommadam, the Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-General. Mr. Sibmuenchai Phothisin, the Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-General, Mr. Krirkrai Nasamoyon, Legal Advisor, Mr. Nattawut Phatprayoon, Labour Academic Advisor, Mr. Sakdinart Sontisakyothin, Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour, and senior executives of the Ministry of Labour. Mr. Somchai Maruksriwan, Director-General of the Department of Employment, delivered the event report at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, Halls 5–6, Khlong Toei District, Bangkok. Ms. Trinuch Thienthong, Minister of Labour, stated that the Ministry of Labour places great importance on driving the national economy by managing the workforce both quantitatively and qualitatively, alongside developing skills in line with labour market and industrial demand. The Ministry also promotes workplace safety, the protection of rights, and fair access to welfare to sustainably enhance workers’ quality of […]
January 13, 2026 – Ms. Trinuch Thienthong, Minister of Labour, received orchid flowers from a group of students, education professionals, executives, and staff of the Office of the Teachers’ Council of Thailand Secretariat as part of publicity activities for the 70th Teachers’ Day 2026, organised by the Ministry of Education, prior to the Cabinet meeting at Building 1, Government House.
January 12, 2026, 09.30 hours – Ms. Trinuch Thienthong, Minister of Labour, assigned Mr. Somchai Maruksriwan, Director-General of the Department of Employment, to preside over the opening ceremony and deliver remarks to Thai workers participating in the Thai Workforce Capacity Development Programme in line with the needs of the Israeli labour market, Fiscal Year 2026, Batch 7. On this occasion, Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharak, Permanent Secretary of Labour, assigned Mr. Sakdinart Sontisakyothin, Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour, to attend the ceremony. The event was held at the Pre-Departure Training Centre for Overseas Employment, on the 11th Floor of the Social Security Office Area 3 Building, Ministry of Labour, Bangkok. For this training session, organised by the Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour, the objective is to enhance essential skills and prepare Thai workers before their departure to work in the State of Israel. The training focuses on practical skills, including basic Hebrew language, agricultural work, the use of modern agricultural tools and techniques, and daily life and adaptation overseas. The training programme is scheduled for three days, from January 12–14, 2026, with a total of 400 trainees […]
Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharak, Permanent Secretary of Labour, invites the public, jobseekers, and workers of all groups to attend “JOB EXPO THAILAND 2026”, a major national job fair to be held from January 16–18, 2026, from 10.00–19.00 hours, at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Halls 5–6. Organised by the Department of Employment, the event aims to connect people with jobs and careers, while promoting comprehensive skills development. The Permanent Secretary of Labour said that a key highlight of this year’s event is the availability of over 500,000 job vacancies from establishments and employers both in Thailand and overseas, across a wide range of industries. These include manufacturing, services, tourism, logistics, digital sectors, and opportunities for part-time and supplementary income. He encouraged the public, jobseekers, and workers from all groups to use this platform to create opportunities for employment, careers, income generation, and ultimately a more stable quality of life. He added that JOB EXPO THAILAND 2026 is not merely a space for job applications, but a platform for workers of all groups to access labour market information, plan career pathways, and prepare for the evolving world of work. The […]
January 1, 2026, 08.00 hours – Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharak, Permanent Secretary of Labour, led the Ministry of Labour’s senior executives in respectfully presenting a floral arrangement before the royal portraits of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen, and signing a book of well-wishes to offer New Year greetings for the 2026 new year. Those attending the ceremony included Ms. Bubpha Rueangsud, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Somchai Maruksriwan, Director-General of the Department of Employment, Mr. Samat Pattamasukon, Director-General of the Department of Skills Development, Lt. Cdr. Saroj Khomkhai, Director-General of the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, along with senior executives of the Ministry of Labour. The ceremony took place at Sala Sahathai Samakhom, within the Grand Palace. On this occasion, His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen graciously bestowed the Royal Calendar for 2026 upon all those who signed the book of well-wishes, as a mark of auspiciousness in celebration of the New Year.
At the Cabinet meeting on December 30, 2025, Ms. Trinuch Thienthong, Minister of Labour, revealed that the Cabinet approved the draft Ministerial Regulation of the Ministry of Labour on the criteria, procedures, and conditions for reducing Social Security Fund contributions for employers and insured persons in areas severely affected by disasters. The measure reduces Social Security Fund contribution rates for employers and insured persons for a period of 6 months, from December 2025 to May 2026, in 9 disaster-affected provinces in the southern region, namely: Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Pattani, Phatthalung, Yala, Songkhla, Satun, and Surat Thani. The details are as follows: Section 33 insured persons and employers will have a reduced monthly contribution rate from 5% to 3% of the insured person’s wages, while the government contribution remains unchanged at 2.75% of wages per month. Section 39 insured persons will have a reduced monthly contribution from 432 Baht (based on a wage base of 4,800 Baht) to 283 Baht. The Minister of Labour said that this measure, which reduces Social Security Fund contribution rates for 6 months, will help employers and insured persons in the nine disaster-affected provinces […]
The Ministry of Labour, through the Department of Employment, has announced its readiness to organise “JOB EXPO THAILAND 2026”, the largest job fair of the year, under the key message “every job position fits every lifestyle: Thais must have jobs”, to be held from January 16-18, 2026, from 10.00 – 19.00, at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Halls 5–6. The event will feature over 500,000 domestic and overseas job vacancies, along with activities to enhance knowledge and understanding, upskill, provide vocational training, and offer comprehensive job application support. It will also bring together fashion, food, art, entertainment, and engaging workshops in one place. Ms. Trinuch Thienthong, Minister of Labour, revealed that Thailand currently has over 40 million workers in the labour system. Yet, there remains a significant number of unemployed people and workers whose jobs do not match their skills or capabilities. This is particularly evident as the labour market transitions amid global economic conditions, technological change, and new industrial structures. Many employers still require workers with specific skills, while some workers lack access to suitable job opportunities. This gap represents a key challenge in Thailand’s current labour market. The […]
September 23, 2025 – Mr. Samat Pattamasukon, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, presided over the opening of the seminar to formulate operational guidelines and the annual action plan for the Ministry of Labour for the fiscal year 2026. Ms. Warunee Langkapin, Director of the Strategy and Planning Division, delivered the report. The seminar was attended by senior executives, heads of government agencies under the Ministry of Labour, both at central and regional levels, as well as labour attachés abroad. A total of 700 participants attended in person at the Grand Ballroom, 3rd Floor, The Emerald Hotel, Ratchadaphisek Road, Din Daeng District, Bangkok, while over 500 participants joined via electronic conferencing. Mr. Samat Pattamasukon stated that the Ministry of Labour plays a highly significant role in driving Thailand’s economy. In progressing towards becoming an “Economic Ministry,” it is necessary to formulate policies and operational guidelines that are concrete, practical, effective, transparent, and accountable, both at the central and regional levels. This seminar therefore served as a platform to link operations between central and regional agencies, enabling the action plan […]
September 23, 2025 – Mr. Samat Pattamasukon, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour, presided over the opening of the seminar to formulate operational guidelines and the annual action plan for the Ministry of Labour for the fiscal year 2026. Ms. Warunee Langkapin, Director of the Strategy and Planning Division, delivered the report. The seminar was attended by senior executives, heads of government agencies under the Ministry of Labour, both at central and regional levels, as well as labour attachés abroad. A total of 700 participants attended in person at the Grand Ballroom, 3rd Floor, The Emerald Hotel, Ratchadaphisek Road, Din Daeng District, Bangkok, while over 500 participants joined via electronic conferencing. Mr. Samat Pattamasukon stated that the Ministry of Labour plays a highly significant role in driving Thailand’s economy. In progressing towards becoming an “Economic Ministry,” it is necessary to formulate policies and operational guidelines that are concrete, practical, effective, transparent, and accountable, both at the central and regional levels. This seminar therefore served as a platform to link operations between central and regional agencies, enabling the action plan […]
On October 31, 2024, at 09.00 hours in the local time of the Republic of Singapore, the Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, together with the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, the Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Sakdinart Sonthisakyotin, the Minister Counselor (on Labour) from the Labour Office in Singapore, Mr. Wuttisak Pathomsart, attended the 13th ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting (ALMM + 3) at the Garden Pavilion, Republic of Singapore. Mr. Phiphat said that the ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan, Korea) Labour Ministers’ Meeting aims to develop technical and academic advancements, as well as link cooperation in forums through projects of international agencies in Thailand. He highlighted the issue of technological advancements as a challenge for all Thai workers who must adapt and transition to an aging society. Therefore, to prepare Thai workers, it has a policy of working at all ages and a focus on upskilling, reskilling, and new skills to promote innovation among workers, which aims to cover at least 5 million people in 2025. It is also focused on preparing the new generation of workers by creating curricula and guidance from secondary school, […]
On August 1, 1024, at 14.00 hours, the Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, presided over the opening ceremony of the seminar and gave policies to participants of the workshop on “Developing the Potential of Labour Services in the Area by Labour Graduates” for the 2024 fiscal year. The Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Pairoj Chotikasathien, reported the objectives of the event. The Ministry of Labour’s executives joined the occasion at the Prince Grand Ballroom, Prince Palace Hotel, Pom Prap Sattru Phai District, Bangkok. Mr. Phiphat said that the Ministry of Labour gives importance to driving the mission, aiming for tangible results for the people in the area, which is proactively carried out through the regional office. Southern border labour graduates are an important mechanism to drive the mission of the Ministry of Labour, helping with the implementation of missions at the local, district, sub-district, and village levels. The labour graduates perform their duties so that all workers have a better quality of life. They do this by providing labour services, cooperating and managing duties, and being a source of support for the people and those involved. The “Developing […]
On May 24, 2024, at 09.00 hours, the Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, presided over an address to 126 Thai workers who will travel to work in Taiwan and Japan. The Secretariat to the Labour Minister, Mr. Aree Krainara, from the Prime Minister’s Secretariat’s Office, Mr. Phuchong Worasri, the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Pairoj Chotikasathien, and the Ministry of Labour’s executives joined the occasion at the Ministry of Labour’s meeting room, 5th floor, Ministry of Labour. The Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, revealed that the Ministry of Labour has set a goal of sending 100,000 Thai workers to work abroad by 2024, encouraging Thai workers to have a stable income and improve their quality of life. In the latest developments, it has sent 60,769 workers abroad to 139 countries, reaching 60.7 percent of its goal. The top five countries where Thai workers are sent to are Taiwan, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Laos, and the United States. Today, 126 Thai workers were preparing to travel to work abroad legally. The workers were receiving pre-departure training. Of the 126 […]
On August 13, 2021, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin reported that the Ministry of Labour’s Social Security Office has carried out COVID-19 vaccinations. The first dose has been given to over 1.3 million Section 33 insured persons since June 7. The working group on the management and distribution of the vaccine has prepared a vaccination center to serve Section 33 insured persons with the second dose of vaccinations, which will begin on August 16, 2021. All vaccines are AstraZeneca branded. Mr. Suchart said that the second dose of vaccinations would start on August 16, 2021, onwards. Insured persons are divided according to the following vaccination formula. The first is (AZ+AZ), insured persons who received the first dose as AstraZeneca and will be due for the second dose within 12-16 weeks. The second dose will be the same, that is AstraZeneca. Insured persons in the Bangkok area who received the first dose from June 7 to July 21, 2021, will receive a second dose from August 16 to September 28, 2021. The second formula (SV+AZ) is insured persons alternating vaccines. According to the resolution of the […]
