The International Labour Organization (ILO), through the European Union (EU)-funded PROTECT Project, is working with its civil society and private sector partners to promote fair recruitment and decent work for migrant workers in Thailand's construction industry.
The construction industry in Thailand relies heavily on migrant workers, often employed through subcontractors. According to the Department of Employment, in 2022 there were approximately 600,000 migrant workers in construction, around a third of whom are women migrants.
Construction work carries many risks. A March 2025 skyscraper collapse, triggered by an earthquake, tragically exposed the safety risks as well as gaps in social security. In addition to 96 confirmed fatalities, of the 900 construction workers at the site, only 59 were registered with the Social Security Office. Women migrant workers may face discrimination, as they are not always paid or treated equally to men or Thai nationals.
To raise awareness of migrant workers of their labour rights, the ILO PROTECT Project, in collaboration with the World Vision Foundation of Thailand, has trained 15 Migrant Worker Volunteers on labour rights, protection and referral services so they can support fellow workers in their communities. These volunteers lead training sessions on construction sites in Bangkok and vicinity provinces to raise awareness among migrant workers-particularly women-about their rights and entitlements, referral services and providers, healthcare, and gender-based violence. In addition, the project has delivered training for subcontractors to strengthen fair recruitment practices and promote better understanding of the labour and protection rights of migrant workers.
The initiative aims to ensure that women migrant workers in Thailand's construction sector are better protected from labour rights violations and gender-based violence, while promoting responsible business conduct and decent work practices across the private sector.
"I've learned a lot from the training, especially about healthcare, family planning and occupational safety. For many of us, it was the first time we received this kind of information. I find it very beneficial for me and my peers, especially as we encounter various hazards in our daily work," said Oh, a Lao migrant woman construction worker.
© Pichit Phromkade/ILO
Implemented across six provinces in the Greater Bangkok area-Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom and Chonburi-the project demonstrates a strong public-private partnership model aligned with the ILO-EU PROTECT programme's focus on decent work, fair recruitment and the protection of women and children in labour migration contexts.
"Leveraging on strategic partnerships with major property developers-Sansiri, Britania and Origin- and on empowerment of migrant worker volunteers to become agent of changes bridging between their communities and service providers, the PROTECT project will not only be able to encourage subcontractors' compliance with responsible business conduct related to recruitment and employment of migrant workers, but also address barriers to information on labour rights, entitlements and access to necessary services for migrant workers," said Sophia Kagan, Chief Technical Adviser of the EU-ILOPROTECT project.
