Thailand strengthens capacity of early-career labour inspectors to better protect workers in hard-to-reach sectors

RAYONG (ILO News) - The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with Thailand's Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DLPW) of the Ministry of Labour, launched a specialized training programme to strengthen the capacity of early-career labour inspectors to address labour rights violations and forced labour risks in fishing, agriculture and domestic work sectors.

The workshop "Enhancing Capacity of Early-Career Labour Inspectors in Hard-to-Reach Sectors: Fishing, Agriculture and Domestic Work" brought together labour inspectors, government officials, employers' and workers' organizations, and civil society organizations to strengthen practical inspection systems and promote collaboration in protecting vulnerable workers, including migrant workers.

In his opening remarks, Pongthep Pethsom, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DLPW), emphasized the importance of strengthening labour inspection systems to respond to evolving labour challenges.

"Thailand's labour inspection system continues to adapt to changing patterns of work, migration, and employment relationships, particularly in workplaces that are difficult to monitor, such as fishing vessels, small farms or private households. Strengthening the practical capacity of labour inspectors is essential to ensuring that all workers, including migrant workers, can access protection under labour laws and regulations," said Mr Pongthep.

The training focused on sector-specific risks and practical inspection skills, including application of forced labour indicators, survivor-sensitive interview techniques, risk-based inspection planning, evidence gathering, and referral mechanisms. Participants also engaged in practical exercises and field visits to develop hands-on inspection skills.

Fishing, agriculture, and domestic work remain among the most challenging sectors for labour inspection due to factors such as informal employment arrangements, dispersed or workplaces, labour mobility, and heightened risks of exploitation. The workshop was tailored to address these unique challenges while also supporting ongoing efforts to modernize labour inspection training tools and strengthen institutional capacity for long-term sustainability.

The programme included a panel discussion featuring representatives from employers' and workers' organizations and civil society organizations to exchange perspectives on strengthening collaboration and tripartite engagement in labour inspection and worker protection.

"Effective labour inspection cannot be achieved by the government alone. Strong collaboration between labour authorities, employers' and workers' organizations, and civil society is critical to addressing risks, improving compliance, and ensuring that vulnerable workers are protected in practice," said Xiaoyan Qian, Director of the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific and Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao People's Democratic Republic.

The workshop reflects the continued commitment of the ILO and the DLPW to promoting decent work, strengthening labour administration systems, and advancing rights-based approaches to labour protection in Thailand. Organized through the collaboration of the Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia programme, the Migrant Advocacy for Rights project, and the PROTECT project, the training forms part of broader efforts to strengthen labour inspection systems and improve compliance with labour standards in hard-to-reach sectors.

About the programmes

The training was co-implemented by three initiatives supporting safe migration, decent work and the protection of migrant workers' rights in Thailand and across South-East Asia:

Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia: Safe Migration for Decent Work in the Blue Economy is a regional initiative funded by the European Union, with the overall objective of promoting safe migration and decent work for a sustainable fish and seafood supply chain in South-East Asia.

Migrant Advocacy for Rights (MARs) is a project funded by the US Government, which aims to support the protection of migrant workers' rights in informal sectors, particularly agriculture.

Ensuring Decent Work and Reducing Vulnerability for Women and Children in the Context of Labour Migration in Southeast Asia (PROTECT) programme, is a regional programme funded by the European Union which aims to promote rights-based and gender-responsive migration governance, including protection for women migrant workers in domestic work and other sectors.

For more information, please contact:

Worapon Rattanawarawong
Public Information Officer
Ship to Shore Rights South-East Asia Programme
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Email: [email protected]