Phuket seeks to register 71,255 migrant workers to ease hospital costs

Phuket authorities are stepping up efforts to register migrant workers with the Social Security system after provincial figures showed that 71,255 of the island’s 97,919 migrant workers were not enrolled.

A provincial report released earlier this week said 26,664 migrant workers, or 27.23% of the total, were registered, while 72.77% remained unregistered. Officials said the campaign aims to improve workers’ access to legal employment protections and healthcare benefits while addressing unrecovered treatment costs at public hospitals.

A joint task force led by the Phuket Social Security Office inspected two businesses in Thalang and Kathu districts on 27 October 2026. The inspections examined employers’ compliance with migrant-worker employment laws, including Social Security registration, contribution payments and the provision of required benefits. Officials also advised businesses on the documents and procedures needed to register eligible workers.

Under Section 33 of the Social Security Act, eligible employees must be registered within 30 days of starting work. Employers must submit identification, work-permit and employment details, complete registration through the Social Security Office or its electronic system, pay contributions correctly and on time, and keep registration information up to date.

The campaign follows a call by Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation President Rewat Areerob for tighter controls on the impact of migrant workers on public healthcare services. The Phuket News previously reported that Rewat had asked the Labour Ministry to consider reviewing maternity benefits for migrant workers and requiring full health insurance coverage for their dependants and children.

Phuket authorities are pursuing three measures: matching Department of Employment data with Social Security records to identify eligible workers who have not been registered; requiring hospitals to notify the Social Security Office when migrant-related medical expenses cannot be collected; and carrying out joint workplace inspections involving Ministry of Labour agencies and other authorities.

The measures focus on migrant workers from Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam. Officials are urging employers to enrol all eligible workers, saying improved compliance would strengthen access to benefits, help prevent unlawful employment practices and reduce financial pressure on public hospitals.