Thailand Trains Labour Inspectors to Protect Vulnerable Workers

The training focused on helping inspectors identify labour rights violations and potential cases of forced labour in sectors where informal employment arrangements are common.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and Thailand's Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DLPW) have launched a specialized training programme aimed at strengthening the skills of early-career labour inspectors working in some of the country's most difficult sectors to monitor.

The workshop, titled Enhancing Capacity of Early-Career Labour Inspectors in Hard-to-Reach Sectors: Fishing, Agriculture and Domestic Work, brought together labour inspectors, government agencies, employers, workers' representatives and civil society groups. The programme was designed to improve inspection practices and strengthen protections for vulnerable workers, including migrants who often face greater risks of exploitation. Officials said the initiative reflects growing efforts to ensure labour laws are effectively enforced across workplaces that can be difficult to access or regulate.

Inspectors Learn Practical Skills to Detect Abuse

The training focused on helping inspectors identify labour rights violations and potential cases of forced labour in sectors where informal employment arrangements are common.

Participants received instruction on the use of forced labour indicators, risk-based inspection planning, evidence collection techniques, survivor-sensitive interviewing methods and referral systems for workers requiring support. Practical exercises and field visits were also included to help inspectors develop hands-on experience in real-world situations.

Fishing vessels, small agricultural operations and private households present unique challenges for labour inspectors because of their remote locations, changing work environments and limited visibility. These conditions can make it harder for authorities to monitor working conditions and identify abuse.

Collaboration Seen as Key to Worker Protection

During the event, representatives from employers' organizations, workers' groups and civil society organizations participated in panel discussions on improving cooperation in labour inspection and worker protection efforts.

Speaking at the opening session, DLPW Deputy Director-General Pongthep Pethsom said Thailand's labour inspection system must continue adapting to changing employment patterns, migration trends and evolving workplace conditions. He noted that strengthening inspectors' practical skills is essential to ensuring all workers receive protection under labour laws.

ILO officials also emphasized that protecting workers requires cooperation across multiple sectors. Xiaoyan Qian, Director of the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific, said stronger partnerships between labour authorities, employers, workers and civil society are necessary to improve compliance and reduce risks faced by vulnerable workers.

The workshop forms part of broader programmes including Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia, Migrant Advocacy for Rights and the PROTECT project. Together, these initiatives support ongoing efforts to modernize labour inspection systems, improve labour standards compliance and promote decent work across Thailand's most challenging employment sectors.