Although Thailand’s Labour Relations Act prohibits foreign workers from forming unions and serving on union executive councils, informal migrant groups and networks continue to thrive throughout the country. Migrants employed in the fishing and agriculture industries encounter additional hurdles to organizing.

From June to November 2022, the Mekong Migration Network conducted research on the various ways in which Myanmar migrants organize, the difficulties they encounter, and the role of formal organizations in assisting them, with a particular emphasis on those working in Thailand’s fishing and agriculture sectors.

This video showcases the organizing efforts and challenges faced by migrant workers in Samut Sakhon and southern Thailand, including Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, and Songkhla. This project was made possible with the general support of Solidar Suisse, GLP-POWER (Global Labour Programme-Platform for Organising by Workers for Empowerment and Recognition), Solidar Network, USAID and EU.