The Mahidol Migration Center–Joint Research Unit (MMC-JRU), together with the Faculty of Humanities at Chiang Mai University and the Migrant Working Group, convened the Stakeholder Meeting: Social Lab on Strengthening Policy Advocacy of Migrant Workers in Thailand on 30 October 2023 in Bangkok. Supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the event brought together representatives from the Ministries of Labour and Public Health, civil society, and researchers to discuss pressing policy challenges affecting migrant workers in the agricultural sector—an industry that remains central to Thailand’s economy, contributing 8.1% of GDP and relying heavily on migrant labor. Participants reviewed current labour migration data, the year-round nature of agricultural work, and gaps in protections and welfare systems that leave many migrant workers without social security coverage or adequate living conditions.

Discussions highlighted the structural limitations of existing labour laws, which categorize most agricultural work as temporary or informal, excluding many migrant workers from standard protections such as the Social Security Fund. Despite over 326,000 registered migrant agricultural workers in 2023, the true workforce is widely understood to be much larger due to undocumented migration. Stakeholders emphasized the need for a new protection model that reflects the realities of multi-employer, seasonal, and mobile agricultural work, while improving housing standards and expanding access to social protection. The meeting forms part of a continuing national dialogue aimed at strengthening fair labour practices and improving policy coherence for Thailand’s agricultural migrant workforce.

Press Release available in both English & Thai.