In a world scrambling to redefine work and education in the post-pandemic, AI-fuelled era, Thailand has just taken a bold step—and it’s time we in India take notice.
Recently, Thailand’s Labour Minister Pongkawin Jungrungruangkit unveiled a five-point workforce strategy aimed at empowering youth, equipping workers with AI skills, and safeguarding informal labour. On the surface, it looks like a domestic employment reform. But look closer, and you’ll see a blueprint for something far bigger: a scalable model for future-ready skill ecosystems.
And here’s why, as an Indian edupreneur deeply invested in education, entrepreneurship, and skilling, this matters to me—and should to you too.
The Five Pillars of Thailand’s Reform: A Quick Look
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AI Curriculum for All: Upskilling students and workers with AI and digital literacy via public-private partnerships.
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Social Security for Informal Workers: Expanding protection to 21+ million informal workers (sound familiar? India has 90% of its workforce informal!).
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Learn-to-Earn Scheme: Allowing school students (15–18) to gain real work experience without dropping out.
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Upskilling Low-Wage Workers: Targeting nearly 1.8 million earning below THB 400/day (~₹950/day) for income mobility.
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Ethical Foreign Labour Practices: Streamlining foreign employment to protect both migrant and local workers.
India’s Parallel Reality: The Challenge & Opportunity
India, with the world’s largest youth population (over 365 million aged 10–24), is sitting on a potential demographic dividend. But that dividend can quickly become a demographic disaster if we don’t act with similar urgency.
Skill Mismatch = Missed Opportunities
According to the India Skills Report 2024:
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Only 51% of Indian youth are employable.
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Less than 20% of graduates are trained in any job-relevant skill.
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The gig economy employs over 7.7 million, many without formal protections or pathways to upskilling.
Now contrast this with Thailand’s proactive approach. They are not only preparing their youth for today’s jobs, but for tomorrow’s disruptions.
What We Can Learn – and Lead – As Indian Edupreneurs
1. Learn-to-Earn Must Replace Learn-Then-Earn
Thailand’s initiative allows teenagers to earn while they learn, instilling confidence, discipline, and workplace skills.
Why can’t we integrate skill labs, digital internships, or micro-enterprise modules right into Indian secondary schools and polytechnics?
2. AI for the Masses, Not Just the Elite
AI training in Thailand is part of mainstream curriculum—not just IIT labs or coding bootcamps.
Can we bring AI literacy into rural India in vernacular languages? Yes. Platforms like BharatGPT and AI4Bharat are paving the way.
3. Upskilling the Bottom of the Pyramid
Thailand is targeting its lowest-paid workers. In India, nearly 42 crore informal workers are underpaid, unprotected, and underskilled.
Pico Entrepreneurship (which I advocate for) could be a vital solution: empower low-income women and men with mini-business models, supported by skill + credit + digital.
4. Public-Private Synergy Is Not a Buzzword
Thailand’s reforms are made possible by coordinated action between government, businesses, and educators.
In India, we need to go beyond schemes and create ecosystems—incubators in schools, apprenticeships via MSMEs, and outcome-linked funding.
A Wake-Up Call—and a Window of Opportunity
While Thailand may be smaller in size, its clarity in execution shows what’s possible when a nation focuses on alignment instead of only ambition.
As India dreams of becoming a $5 trillion economy, we must ask:
Are we equipping our youth with 21st-century skills or 20th-century textbooks?
As edupreneurs, we don’t just build ventures—we shape future societies. It’s time to push for:
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Integrated vocational learning from school level
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Skill-first mindset in policy and pedagogy
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Entrepreneurship as a life skill, not just a career choice
Final Thought: Thailand Planted Seeds. Let’s Grow Forests.
Thailand has planted the seeds of a skill-first society. It’s not perfect. It’s not flashy. But it’s practical, inclusive, and forward-looking.
If you’re an educator, policymaker, or parent in India—this isn’t just their story.
It could be our future too, if we choose to act.
Let’s learn. Let’s adapt. Let’s lead.