Thailand’s Ministry of Labour rolls out vocational training programme

• Free nationwide vocational training for informal and vulnerable workers to boost income and employability.
• Gig worker project blends practical skills with business training to support sustainable self-employment.
• Trainees receive 120 Baht daily allowance and tools worth 4,000 Baht to start work immediately.

Thailand’s Ministry of Labour has launched a nationwide free vocational training initiative aimed at generating income, upskilling the workforce, and creating sustainable employment opportunities, particularly for informal workers and vulnerable groups.

The announcement came as on 21 January 2026, Trinuch Thienthong, Labour Minister together with Somchat Supharee, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Skills Development (DSD), took part in a vocational training session under a delivery restaurant course. The session featured practical training in preparing Koy See Mee and Khao Tang Na Tang, and forms part of the gig worker project led by the Department of Skills Development.

Expanding access to skills training for vulnerable groups

Minister Trinuch said she places strong emphasis on creating equal opportunities for all, particularly vulnerable groups, informal workers, older persons, and those affected by economic or social circumstances.

Culinary training, she noted, is one of the key strategies to develop workforce skills that align with current and future labour market demands, especially in the service and tourism industries. Such skills can be developed into either a primary occupation or supplementary source of income, helping individuals and families strengthen their financial stability.

The training session was conducted under the project to enhance skills of freelance workers and specific target groups to increase employment opportunities, also known as the gig worker project.

According to the Minister Trinuch, freelance vocational training programmes implemented by the DSD cover a broad range of fields. In addition to technical skills, trainees receive guidance on cost management, product pricing, and marketing strategies.

“The Ministry of Labour places continuous importance on developing workforce skills to enhance competitiveness, create employment opportunities, ensure stable incomes, and enable people to be self-reliant in a sustainable manner,” Minister Trinuch said.

Somchat added that participants in the project receive a daily allowance of 120 Baht during the training period.

Upon completion, trainees are provided with a set of occupational tools worth 4,000 Baht per person, enabling them to begin working immediately. They also receive a certificate issued by the Department of Skills Development. For participants in the culinary course, the tool set includes an electric oven, a gas stove, and a hot-air fryer.

Somchat described freelance vocational training as a key mechanism to improve quality of life and strengthen household-level economic security, particularly among informal workers, low-income earners, and those affected by economic conditions.

Individuals seeking employment or looking to pursue supplementary work to increase household income may apply for training at Department of Skills Development offices in every province nationwide. Enquiries can also be made via the Ministry of Labour hotline at 1506, press 4.

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