Thailand to introduce bill for informal workers’ welfare

The Government of Thailand is set to introduce a bill aimed at enhancing the quality of life and providing welfare protection for the country’s 20 million informal workers, including Internet influencers and farmers who currently lack access to a social safety net.

Labour Ministry spokesperson Phumiphat Mueanchan announced that the ministry is advancing the bill to the Cabinet for approval before it proceeds to Parliament.

This new legislation seeks to encompass independent workers such as farmers, freelancers, vendors, artists, actors, YouTubers, influencers, and food delivery riders within a formal social welfare scheme. These groups now represent a significant portion of the workforce, yet are not formally recognised under current labour laws.

Phumiphat highlighted that, due to this lack of formal recognition, these workers are not entitled to universal state health insurance or other basic labour rights.

“The bill aims to provide social security coverage, ensure workplace safety, and protect the rights of these non-formal workers.”

Moreover, the bill would enable the registration of non-formal workers, allowing the government to devise more precise policies, design benefits, and allocate appropriate budgets based on the submitted information.

Labour Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn recently endorsed the Kru Kor project, which aims to train 75,249 local community leaders and volunteers nationwide. This initiative is intended to disseminate information about the bill to informal workers, ensuring they register promptly once the new law is enacted, reported Bangkok Post.

In related news, Thailand’s government is set to approve a plan involving the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to manage energy conservation projects in state agencies through long-term contracts.

This initiative aims to enhance energy-saving efforts across 800 state agencies, targeting a 20% reduction in energy consumption. MEA and PEA will implement a model similar to an energy service company (ESCO), investing in energy-saving equipment and receiving returns based on electricity bill savings.