Training Policy Brief

How to improve working conditions for gig workers in Thailand?

While Thai platform workers enjoy flexibility and independence, they are deprived of security at work resulting from unclear employment status. Given insufficient benefits generated from platforms, gig workers can only be protected under social security schemes for informal workers which provide less coverage compared to formal employees. Those workers are also experiencing income security issues and lack bargaining power that leads to unfair job benefits. This policy brief suggests that the Thai government should consider including gig workers in formal employment to be eligible for benefits and social protection. Alternatively, the government should promote existing security schemes for gig workers and regulate platforms to provide the minimum standard of working conditions. Furthermore, collective bargaining should be encouraged to enable more negotiation between platforms and platform workers.