International Labour Organization (ILO) Thailand
The International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia, and Lao PDR (CO-Bangkok) is the ILO's structural technical-support presence in mainland Southeast Asia. Provides technical assistance to the Thai Ministry of Labour, Department of Skill Development, Department of Labour Protection, and Social Security Office on ILO-convention compliance, migrant-worker protection (Thailand hosts ~2-3M Myanmar, Cambodian, Lao migrant workers), child-labour elimination, and occupational-safety-and-health frameworks. Co-hosts the ILO Asia-Pacific Regional Office. Reference institution for Thai labour-policy, migrant-worker-rights, and decent-work-agenda analysis.
Profile overview
The International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia, and Lao PDR (CO-Bangkok) is the ILO's structural technical-support presence in mainland Southeast Asia. Provides technical assistance to the Thai Ministry of Labour, Department of Skill Development, Department of Labour Protection, and Social Security Office on ILO-convention compliance, migrant-worker protection (Thailand hosts ~2-3M Myanmar, Cambodian, Lao migrant workers), child-labour elimination, and occupational-safety-and-health frameworks. Co-hosts the ILO Asia-Pacific Regional Office. Reference institution for Thai labour-policy, migrant-worker-rights, and decent-work-agenda analysis.
Programme areas
Migrant workers
Myanmar, Cambodia, Lao worker protection
Thailand hosts an estimated 2 to 3 million registered migrant workers from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Lao PDR, predominantly in agriculture, construction, fishing, and domestic work. ILO provides technical assistance on MOU labour-migration protocols and bilateral enforcement.
Decent work
Labour-standards compliance
Technical assistance to the Thai Ministry of Labour on ILO-convention ratification and implementation, including freedom of association (Convention 87), collective bargaining (Convention 98), and forced-labour elimination (Convention 29, 105).
Occupational safety
OSH framework development
Supports the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DLPW) in developing occupational-safety-and-health (OSH) regulations, workplace inspection systems, and compensation frameworks aligned with ILO Convention 155.
Skills development
Vocational training and recognition
Coordinates with the Department of Skill Development on recognition of prior learning, TVET quality frameworks, and youth-employment programmes under the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth.
ASEAN migrant-worker hosting countries — ILO engagement context
Key receiving countries for ASEAN labour migration, 2024 estimates
Thailand
Migrant workers (est.)
~3–4M (registered, undocumented est.)
Primary origins
Myanmar, Cambodia, Lao PDR
ILO office
CO-Bangkok (co-regional hub)
Malaysia
Migrant workers (est.)
~2.5–3M
Primary origins
Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar
ILO office
ILO Kuala Lumpur
Singapore
Migrant workers (est.)
~1.4M
Primary origins
Bangladesh, India, Philippines, Myanmar
ILO office
ILO Singapore regional
Lao PDR (destination from China-linked projects)
Migrant workers (est.)
~100K–200K (transit)
Primary origins
Vietnamese, Chinese project workers
ILO office
Served by CO-Bangkok
| Country | Migrant workers (est.) | Primary origins | ILO office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | ~3–4M (registered, undocumented est.) | Myanmar, Cambodia, Lao PDR | CO-Bangkok (co-regional hub) |
| Malaysia | ~2.5–3M | Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar | ILO Kuala Lumpur |
| Singapore | ~1.4M | Bangladesh, India, Philippines, Myanmar | ILO Singapore regional |
| Lao PDR (destination from China-linked projects) | ~100K–200K (transit) | Vietnamese, Chinese project workers | Served by CO-Bangkok |
Watchpoints 2025-2026
Labour rights
Myanmar migrant worker vulnerability
The post-2021 Myanmar political crisis significantly increased undocumented migration flows to Thailand. ILO's protection work for Myanmar migrant workers faces heightened complexity around MOU protocol enforcement and workplace rights.
Supply chain
Thai fishing and agriculture forced-labour compliance
International buyers, EU CSDDD, and US Tariff Act Section 307 require Thai seafood and agriculture supply chains to demonstrate freedom from forced labour. ILO technical assistance on Labour Inspection Programme compliance is a direct trade-access enabler.
Structural
Informal-economy formalisation agenda
ILO's technical support for Thailand's social-protection extension to informal workers and street vendors aligns with the government's National Social Protection Strategy. Progress determines how 40% of the workforce accesses benefits.
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Featured in
Thai Street-Vendor and Informal Economy: 30-40% of GDP
ILO's Thailand office; technical support on labour rights, migrant workers, occupational safety, and skills.
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