AI integration pivotal across minister's five key policies
In his inaugural address as Minister of Labour, Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit outlined a series of five core policies aimed at addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence (AI) and youth employment. Pongkawin, who brings a wealth of private sector experience to the role, emphasised the need to balance the needs of employers and employees, including both formal and informal workers.
### Key Points of the New Labour Minister’s AI-Focused Policies:
The minister's policies revolve around equipping Thai workers with AI-related skills and increasing employment opportunities for youth aged 15-18. To achieve this, AI skill training will be integrated into education and vocational programs, preparing young people for the future job market. The manufacturing and service sectors will be the primary focus areas for AI curricula development.
Moreover, the private sector will be encouraged to participate in these AI skills development programs. This collaboration will help ensure that the training is industry-relevant and effective in meeting the demands of the evolving job market.
### Addressing Foreign Worker Concerns:
Pongkawin also addressed concerns about a potential labor shortage due to the return of Cambodian migrant workers. He instructed relevant agencies to review and adjust the proportion of foreign workers to maintain a balanced workforce. This could involve bringing in skilled workers from outside the CLMV region (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam), particularly for industrial sectors requiring specific skills, to ensure stable economic growth.
### Equal Labour Protection and Modernising Social Security:
Another major policy is pushing for new labour laws to cover the over 21 million informal workers in Thailand, modernising social security to provide equitable care and protection across all worker groups. This policy aims to ensure that no worker is left behind in the digital, AI-enhanced economy.
### National AI Initiatives:
Thailand is also advancing AI development under the National AI Committee and efforts like the AI Ethics Centre. The government encourages cooperation among governments, businesses, and educators to retrain workers and uphold human labor value alongside AI.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) is implementing an “MHESI for AI” policy, which includes AI workforce development, lifelong AI learning initiatives, and AI-driven innovation support to meet the projected demand of over 80,000 AI and digital sector jobs from 2025 to 2029.
In summary, the new Labour Minister’s policies focus on leveraging AI to boost youth employment and skill development while carefully managing foreign worker regulations to prevent labor shortages. These efforts are part of broader national strategies to prepare Thailand’s workforce for a digital, AI-enhanced economy and ensure inclusive, fair labour protections for all workers.
- Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit, the new Minister of Labour, is championing policies centered on artificial intelligence (AI) and youth employment.
- The policies emphasize equipping Thai workers with AI-related skills and creating opportunities for youth aged 15-18, with these skills integrated into education and vocational programs.
- The manufacturing and service sectors will be primary focus areas for AI curricula development, with the private sector encouraged to collaborate in these programs.
- Addressing concerns about a labor shortage due to the return of Cambodian migrant workers, Pongkawin instructed relevant agencies to review and adjust the proportion of foreign workers.
- This could involve bringing in skilled workers from outside the CLMV region for industrial sectors requiring specific skills to ensure stable economic growth.
- The minister also plans to push for new labour laws covering the over 21 million informal workers in Thailand, modernizing social security to provide equitable care and protection.
- Thailand is advancing AI development under the National AI Committee, encouraging collaboration among governments, businesses, and educators to retrain workers and uphold human labor value.
- The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) is implementing an "MHESI for AI" policy, which includes AI workforce development, lifelong AI learning initiatives, and AI-driven innovation support to meet the projected demand for over 80,000 AI and digital sector jobs by 2029.
