Phuket labour day funds cancer centre amid workers’ struggles
Funds pour in for cancer centre but migrant workers face harsh realities on Phuket's streets
Phuket provincial officials marked National Labour Day 2025 with the event Labourers for the Light on Thursday, raising more than 150,000 baht to support the construction of the province’s first government cancer centre at Vachira Phuket Hospital.
The event, which took place at Bang Wad Dam, was presided over by Phuket Vice Governor Suwit Phansengiam and brought together over 900 participants, including government officials, labour union representatives, employer organisations, private sector executives, and community groups.
Kris Thammaphirakul, President of the Dusit Laguna Phuket Labour Union and Chair of the Labour Day Organising Committee, underscored the significance of the day in recognising the vital role workers play in driving the economy. This year’s theme, Labourers for Radiation, aimed to promote unity and well-being among workers. A charity walk-run raised funds for a radiation therapy building and essential medical equipment for the new centre.
During the event, labour representatives presented formal demands to the government. Wichien Dasanthat, President of the Phuket Hotel and Service Labour Federation, delivered a letter outlining key issues, including fair wages, job security, and health and safety protections.
Worachet Kongsen, from the Phuket State Enterprise Labour Relations Confederation, urged the government to reject the controversial Entertainment Complex Bill, ratify ILO Convention No. 155 on occupational health and safety, tackle corruption, and support domestic business development.
The event’s highlight was the donation of 150,740 baht, raised from the Labour Day activities, to Dr Piyanat Sakulpipat, Deputy Director of Medical Affairs at Vachira Phuket Hospital. The funds will go toward establishing the hospital’s Comprehensive Radiation Therapy Centre, the first government cancer treatment facility of its kind in the province. The centre will serve the six Andaman provinces, including Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Ranong, Trang, and Satun.
Although Vachira’s cancer centre will be the first government-run facility of its kind in the region, it’s worth noting that Bangkok Hospital Phuket opened its own cancer treatment centre just last year.
Despite the impressive fundraising efforts, the Royal Thai Government’s Ministry of Public Health has been slow to allocate funding for the project, making additional donations essential. The funds raised far surpassed the initial target of 290 million baht in February, with the excess now earmarked for vital medical equipment.
However, there is a stark contrast between the event’s celebration and the conditions of Phuket’s labour force, which is predominantly made up of Myanmar migrant workers. According to the Phuket Provincial Employment Office, 117,245 of the 135,626 foreign workers in Phuket hold work permits from Myanmar, and the overwhelming majority work in construction for the island’s booming development sector. Of the 56,622 migrant construction workers, 98.9% are from Myanmar, with a significant portion of the workforce being women.
These workers, often living in substandard conditions and earning minimum wage, continue to face significant challenges, despite the event’s celebration of labour. The lack of attention to their realities reveals a troubling disconnect between the labour force’s true struggles and the public celebrations of their contributions, reported The Phuket News.
Vice Governor Suwit praised the unity shown by workers and organisers, noting that the event reflected a shared commitment to social responsibility and public health. But for many of Phuket’s migrant workers, the road to better conditions remains a long and difficult one.
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