Thailand Moves to Expand Worker Compensation Coverage in Agriculture

Addressing the workshop, Ms. Siriwan Romchatthong, Secretary-General of ECOT, emphasised the importance of social protection for both workers and businesses.

Employers, workers and provincial authorities in Thailand are stepping up efforts to improve access to the Worker’s Compensation Fund (WCF) and strengthen workplace safety in the agriculture sector, amid rising labour shortages, an ageing workforce and increased reliance on migrant labour.

A one-day workshop held in Chonburi on February 4, 2026, organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Employers’ Confederation of Thailand (ECOT), focused on strengthening understanding of the Worker’s Compensation Act B.E. 2537 (1994) and identifying practical measures to expand WCF coverage and prevent occupational injuries and illnesses in agriculture.

Employers, Workers and Provinces Come Together

The workshop brought together 50 participants, including employers and workers from the rubber, palm oil, cassava and pineapple sectors. Officials from the Chonburi Provincial Office of Labour Protection and Welfare and the Chonburi Provincial Social Security Office also participated, highlighting the importance of coordinated action at the local level.

Discussions centred on common workplace hazards in agriculture—such as machinery, chemical exposure and long working hours—and explored prevention strategies to reduce risks while improving compliance with labour standards.

Social Protection Key to Sustainable Agriculture

Addressing the workshop, Ms. Siriwan Romchatthong, Secretary-General of ECOT, emphasised the importance of social protection for both workers and businesses.

“Social protection is fundamental to ensuring quality living and working conditions for workers and for the long-term sustainability of the agriculture sector. ECOT recognises the importance of raising awareness among employers and migrant workers regarding access to the Worker’s Compensation Fund, which helps protect workers while supporting more stable, responsible and productive workplaces,” she said.

Provincial Authorities Highlight Local Impact

Mr. Chaerdchak Aun-kha, Director of the Chonburi Provincial Office of Labour Protection and Welfare, underlined the economic and social benefits of safer workplaces.

“With exposure to hazards such as machinery, chemicals and long working hours, strengthening preventive measures and compliance with labour standards can reduce injuries and illness. This benefits not only businesses, but also the provincial and national economy,” he said.

Representing the Chonburi Provincial Social Security Office, Ms. Rungtiwa Thongsuknok noted that feedback from employers and migrant workers on compliance challenges would help authorities better understand on-the-ground realities and strengthen policy implementation.

Migrant Workers Central to the Sector

Highlighting the national context, Ms. Rebecca Napier-Moore, ILO Technical Officer, said agriculture employs nearly one-third of Thailand’s workforce and remains vital to the country’s economy.

“Good working conditions are essential to ensure the large number of workers in agriculture are valued and enjoy the same rights as any other worker,” she said.

Thailand hosts around 3.8 million documented migrant workers from Myanmar, Lao PDR and Cambodia, with over one million employed in agriculture. The sector contributes up to 8.6 per cent of GDP and generates US$51 billion in exports, yet migrant workers in informal agricultural employment often remain excluded from labour and social protection, facing low wages, excessive hours and significant occupational safety and health risks.

Project Support for Inclusive Supply Chains

The workshop, titled “Social Protection Workshop for Employers and Migrant Workers in the Agriculture Sector”, was co-organised by ECOT and the ILO through the Japan-funded Responsible and Inclusive Supply Chains for Migrant Workers in Thailand (RISC-Migrant) project and the Migrant Advocacy for Rights (MARs) project.

The initiative marks an important step towards expanding social protection, improving safety and promoting decent work in Thailand’s agriculture sector, with particular focus on migrant workers who remain among the most vulnerable in the labour market.