Against the backdrop of global trade uncertainty and volatility, aligning trade policy with decent work principles has become an essential strategy for Thailand's long-term competitiveness according to a national policy dialogue held in Bangkok.
Taking place on 25 November 2025, the event entitled "Decent Work and Trade Readiness: Harnessing Thailand's Potential for Global Competitiveness in the Era of Changing Trade Patterns" was organised by the Government of Thailand together with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Union (EU).
Taking part were more than 40 participants from government ministries, workers' and employers' organizations, the EU Delegation to Thailand, academia and civil society.
Discussions focused on strengthening the connection between trade, labour standards and sustainability; integrating Just Transition principles into Thailand's Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model; and reviewing trends in labour provisions within free trade agreements (FTAs).
"Thailand has demonstrated considerable resilience in the face of global trade uncertainty and is well-positioned to take advantage of emerging opportunities. Ensuring that growth is both competitive and equitable requires that trade, employment and social policy, including labour standards, are mutually reinforcing," said Saksinath Sonthisakyotin, Assistant Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour. "This dialogue marks an important step toward policy coherence and shared prosperity."
"Thailand has shown remarkable commitment to ensuring that economic progress and decent work goes hand in hand with social justice," 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 the Lao People's Democratic Republic. "The ILO deeply appreciates the leadership of the Ministry of Labour and the support of the European Union in driving this dialogue. Together, we are laying the groundwork for a future where Thailand's trade competitiveness is strengthened through human-centred and sustainable development".
"This dialogue reflects the strength of our partnership with the ILO and the Government of Thailand," said Andreas Roettger, Head of the Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) Regional Team for Asia and the Pacific at the EU Delegation to Thailand. "The European Union is proud to support Thailand's efforts towards inclusive and sustainable growth. By working together, we can ensure that the benefits of free trade are grounded in respect for labour rights, inclusion, and the well-being of both workers and employers."
The dialogue featured thematic sessions on reducing barriers to trade competitiveness, just transition and green jobs, and the trends on economic and labour market dimensions of trade competitiveness. Technical experts from the ILO, government agencies, and social partners shared insights on how decent work compliance can enhance Thailand's global reputation and attract quality investment.
Participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthen coherence between trade and labour policies. The ILO, with the support of the European Union, will continue working with the government, employer and worker representatives of Thailand to follow up on the recommendations from the dialogue, including potential technical cooperation activities and knowledge exchanges with other Asia-Pacific countries.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, Thailand's exports reached a record US$300.53 billion in 2024, an increase of 5.4 per cent from the previous year, while imports expanded by 6.3 per cent.
The National Policy Dialogue is part of the Managing a Decent Future of Work Together - Asia and the Pacific ("Future of Work: APAC") project funded by the European Commission's Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) and implemented by the ILO. The project is a four-year initiative (2025-2029) promoting mutual learning toward higher labour standards in the face of megatrends such as technological change, demographic shifts, climate transition, and evolving trade patterns.
