The first foreign labour law and management training programme for the 2026 fiscal year was organised by the Phuket Provincial Employment Office on Tuesday (May 26) at The Pago Hotel in Ratsada.
Phuket Vice Governor Teeraphong Chuaychoo presided over the opening ceremony, joined by employers, business operators and partner organisations from across the province.
The training focused on helping businesses better understand laws, regulations and procedures related to employing foreign workers legally, while also promoting more efficient labour management systems.
Officials from the Phuket Provincial Employment Office delivered presentations on the management of migrant workers from Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, including the electronic work permit system and procedures for obtaining work permits.
Representatives from Phuket Immigration Office also provided information on the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), visa issuance and extensions, residential address notification requirements and mandatory 90-day reporting.
Additional sessions covered social security benefits available to migrant workers and employers, health check-ups and health insurance requirements, and procedures for issuing and updating registration records, commonly known as “pink cards”, for non-Thai nationals.
Pichit Singthongkam, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Employment Office, said Phuket continues to face high demand for unskilled foreign labour, particularly in the business and service sectors where many positions are not being filled by Thai workers.
Mr Pichit noted that Phuket’s minimum wage of B400 per day has also contributed to a steady influx of migrant workers into the province.
According to figures presented at the event, Phuket currently has 15,275 employers and establishments employing migrant workers from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
The province currently has 122,781 registered foreign workers holding work permits, including 120,295 Myanmar nationals, 1,550 Lao nationals, 209 Cambodian nationals and 727 Vietnamese nationals.
PROTECTION
Separately, Phuket officials on Wednesday (May 27) launched a new project aimed at strengthening labour protection monitoring in response to changes driven by the digital economy.
The opening ceremony for the programme was held at the Bukit Andaman Meeting Room at Bukitta Hotel in Phuket Town at 8:30am, again presided over by Vice Governor Teeraphong.
The initiative forms part of a wider Ministry of Labour effort to improve labour protection and monitor child labour risks in industries including shrimp processing, fisheries, sugarcane and garment manufacturing during the 2026 fiscal year.
Thanapong Orachorn, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Labour Welfare and Protection Office, joined representatives from labour agencies, employers, employees and business operators at the training session, attended by around 60 participants.
Officials said the project is intended to improve understanding of labour protection and child labour monitoring as technological changes and the digital economy continue to reshape employment patterns and the labour market, particularly through online employment and freelance work.
The programme also aims to address emerging forms of child labour linked to digital platforms and online work.
According to the Ministry of Labour, the project will focus on monitoring businesses affected by digital economic changes, preventing labour rights violations, promoting awareness of workers’ rights and security, and strengthening efforts to prevent and resolve child labour issues in high-risk sectors.
Officials said the long-term goal is to ensure fair, appropriate and comprehensive labour protection for workers across all sectors in a sustainable manner.