Thailand Social Protection Diagnostic Review: Social Protection for Migrant Workers and Their Families in Thailand

Original Language
English
ISBN (PDF)
978-92-9268-221-7
Number of Pages
92
Reference Number
PUB2021/207/R
Date of upload

02 Mar 2022

Thailand Social Protection Diagnostic Review: Social Protection for Migrant Workers and Their Families in Thailand

Also available in:

This study is part of the Social Protection Diagnosis Review, a comprehensive review of the social protection system in Thailand, produced under the United Nations Joint Programme on Accelerating Progress Towards an Integrated and Modernized Social Protection System for all in Thailand, which is funded by the Joint SDG Fund.

The study provides a comprehensive picture of the social protection status of migrant workers in Thailand, including analysis on the level of coverage, key challenges and barriers found on interconnected dimensions from labour migration management to associated policy and legal framework. With evidence-based findings, the study also provides an important set of recommendations that can be used as a basis to improve social protection coverage for migrant workers in Thailand for the sustainable benefits of all.

  • List of contents 
  • List of tables and figures
  • List of abbreviations 
  • Foreword 
  • Acknowledgements 
  • Executive summary 
  • Key findings 
  • Recommendations 
  • 1 Introduction
    • 1.1 Roadmap to the report 
  • 2 Approach
    • 2.1 Definitions 
    • 2.2 Scope and methodology 
  • 3 Needs: characteristics and social protection entitlements 
    • 3.1 Channels for regular migration 
    • 3.2 Overview of migrant workers in Thailand 
    • 3.3 Legislation and entitlements for regular migrant workers 
    • 3.4 Social protection arrangements by countries of origin (Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar and Viet Nam) 
  • 4 Coverage of social protection 
    • 4.1 Coverage gaps of eligible migrant workers 
    • 4.2 Informal and non-governmental social protection provision 
  • 5 Effectiveness: barriers to enrolment and accessing benefits 
    • 5.1 Barriers to registration and enrolment for eligible migrant workers 
    • 5.2 Barriers to accessing benefits when registered 
    • 5.3 Challenges and responses to COVID-19 
  • 6 Social protection provisions by ASEAN countries of destination and countries of origin
    • 6.1 Social protection provisions in countries of destination 
    • 6.2 Innovative social protection provisions by countries of origin 
  • 7 Conclusions and implications for policy 
    • 7.1 Conclusions 
    • 7.2 Recommendations for policy
  • Annex A List of key informants 
  • Annex B Migrant demographics, 2019 
  • Annex C Numbers of migrant workers by sector of employment 
    • C.1 Permitted sectors of employment 
  • Annex D Social protection legislation relevant for migrant workers 
    • D.1 The Social Security Act B.E. 2533 (1990) 
    • D.2 The Workmen’s Compensation Act B.E. 2537 (1994) 
    • D.3 Health Examination and Health Insurance of Foreign Workers (No. 2) B.E. 2562 (2019)
  • Bibliography