Employment in Thailand, 2019‑2024: Crisis, Recovery and Informality
By Sasiwimon Warunsiri Paweenawat, Jessica Vechbanyongratana
Read MoreBangkok
Street vendors such as Areerat Chullathip in Bangkok's Economy Square provide home-cooked food, household items, and fresh fruits and vegetables to the local neighbourhood. Yet their livelihoods are constantly at risk. As members of HomeNet Thailand, Areerat and other Economy Square vendors have been working to secure their vending rights and have even formed a savings group to tackle debt problems among vendors. Photo by Paula Bronstein Getty Images Reportage
About Our Work in Bangkok
WIEGO has long supported the work of HomeNet Thailand and the Federation of Informal Workers of Thailand. We collaborated on assessing the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis on workers in informal employment in Bangkok, and before that the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. At the regional level, WIEGO partners with HomeNet Thailand on social protection advocacy.
Goals What Are We Working to Achieve?
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WIEGO has long worked with HomeNet Thailand to conduct research that provides insights into the state of the urban informal economy, and the impacts of crises on workers in informal employment. Among these studies are the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis and of COVID-19, and the Informal Economy Monitoring Study. The most recent work includes monitoring the impacts of extreme weather events on street vendors and home-based workers. The research process involves capacity-building exercises that seek to build climate awareness among workers.
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Securing expanded access to social protection for workers in informal employment is a pillar of HomeNet Thailand’s work. WIEGO supports this work through research – including studies to assess workers’ experiences under existing social security policy, and to better understand informality in old age in Thailand (in partnership with the Thai Gerontology Research and Development Institute). WIEGO also supports HomeNet Southeast Asia and HomeNet Thailand’s collective action on influencing social protection policies at the regional level, including at the ASEAN and the United Nations.
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From 2016-2019, WIEGO provided direct support to HomeNet Thailand and the Network of Thai Street Vendors for Sustainable Development in mobilizing against a historic evictions campaign, branded as “return the footpath to pedestrians”. WIEGO, HomeNet Thailand and the vendors’ network commissioned research demonstrating street vendors’ contributions to local economic development to develop a counter-campaign on social media, stage actions and engage officials on alternatives.
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Featured PostBangkok’s renowned street vendors march against evictions – and rally widespread support
By Chidchanok Samantrakul and Sarah Orleans Reed After relentless evictions against their livelihoods, on 4th September 2018, Bangkok street vendors marched on the government house to demand a halt to these actions. The march was led...
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Wishing for Coexistence, Not Eviction: Life after the Street Vending Ban
Since 2014, the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) has evicted 20,000 vendors from 48 locations, as part of its "Return the Footpath to Pedestrians" policy. Three vendors discuss life before and after the ban. SHOW MORE for additional info on impacts and inclusive alternatives.
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Bangkok is considered highly vulnerable to climate change, with extreme heat, flooding, and air pollution posing severe threats to health and livelihoods, especially for workers in informal employment. The lack of adequate protection at workplaces and exclusion from climate policies and finance exacerbate these threats.
In partnership with HomeNet Thailand, WIEGO is documenting the impacts of the climate crisis on workers. The research process includes capacity-building exercises to raise climate awareness; strengthening adaptive strategies around health, workplace infrastructure, and social protection; coalition building to advance locally grounded adaptation strategies; and developing a common platform of demands across and by sectors.
By identifying key stakeholders and fostering alliances, the initiative is helping to connect grassroots evidence with policy processes and climate finance discussions, laying the foundation for more inclusive and effective climate adaptation at scale.
Climate Change in Thailand's Informal Economy: Stories from Street Vendors and Home-Based Workers
How We Work
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Research
We coordinate and support action research, statistical and budget analysis, and good-practice documentation to ensure workers have a strong evidence base to support their advocacy.
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Policy Advocacy
We support HomeNet Thailand to develop proposals for policy change, drawing on both lived experiences and technical knowledge of their sectors. We support them in advocacy efforts to engage government and other stakeholders on these proposals and fight for reforms.
The Latest Statistics on Work in the Informal Economy in Bangkok
WIEGO does groundbreaking statistical work to help policymakers and workers understand the size and characteristics of the informal economy in cities across the world.
Access the latest statistics-
28.4%
of Bangkok’s total employment is informal employment
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42.1%
of total employment in urban Thailand is informal employment
