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This initiative is one of five policies that new Labour Minister Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit has unveiled, including boosting youth employment and accelerating AI adoption and training.
Thailand’s new Labour Minister Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit announced five core labour policies on 4 July 2025, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI) training and youth employment, particularly targeting those aged 15 to 18.
At the heart of the new policies is a push to raise wages by investing in skill development. The Ministry of Labour plans to upskill and reskill around 1.8mn workers currently earning less than THB400 a day — despite recent minimum wage hikes. These efforts will help workers meet national labour skill standards and access better-paying opportunities. It’s a long-term play to create a more balanced and sustainable wage structure across the country.
The other policies are as follows:
Equal protection for workers
The second policy focuses on legal protection for more than 21mn informal workers. The Ministry plans to introduce new labour laws and modernise the social security system to ensure fair and equitable coverage for all workers. This includes a review of evolving work styles to update policies in line with today’s labour landscape.
Learn to earn
Recognising the potential of young people aged 15–18, the third policy is designed to give students a chance to gain income and experience while in school. The initiative supports part-time work opportunities that don’t compromise health, safety, or academic performance. To pull it off, the Ministry is working closely with the Ministries of Education and Higher Education, along with innovation and entrepreneurship partners, to create meaningful work pathways for youth.
Preparing for an AI-driven future
Thailand is also placing a bet on AI. The fourth policy focuses on equipping the workforce with AI skills that align with industry demands—particularly in the manufacturing and service sectors. With the Labour Skills Development Promotion Act in play, the Ministry hopes to bring private sector players into the fold to help shape and deliver training that’s actually relevant and future-proof.
Urgent organisation of foreign workers working in Thailand
Foreign workers play an important role in supporting Thailand's manufacturing and service sectors. However, the unregulated use of foreign labour has led to various challenges. To address this, the Ministry will take urgent steps to formalise and manage the employment of foreign workers more effectively.
This includes launching awareness campaigns to encourage foreign workers currently in Thailand to follow the proper legal procedures—either by applying for work permits or qualifying for legal exemptions as prescribed by law. At the same time, the Ministry will strictly enforce existing regulations to combat illegal employment and prevent unfair competition in the job market that affects Thai workers.
"I am very honored to be appointed as Minister of Labour by His Majesty the King, which is a very important task because labor is the main engine that drives the country's economy. I understand both from the perspective of employers and employees. I understand the challenges of both informal and informal workers and believe that with the experience I have, I can apply it to formulate policies that actually meet the needs." Minister Pongkwin said.
READ MORE: Thailand to see closer collaboration in advancing local automotive manufacturing supply chain
Lead image / Ministry of Labour Thailand
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