organized the 48th anniversary of ECOT under the theme "Strong Foundation for Sustainable Growth". On this occasion, Mr. Boonsong Tapchaiyut, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labor, was honored to preside over the congratulatory speech. M.R. Nongkran Chompoonuch, Chairman of the Digital Council for the Economy and Society of Thailand, and Dr. Athip Asawanont, Director of the Digital Council for the Economy and Society of Thailand, jointly delivered special lectures and congratulatory speeches. In addition, Mr. Anantachai Kunanantakul, Honorary Chairman and executives of the Employers' Confederation of Thailand welcomed employer and labor network organizations from both domestic and international, such as the International Labor Organization. (ILO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Japan International Labour Foundation (JILAF) who joined to congratulate.

Mr. Ekasit said that ECOT has stood by Thai entrepreneurs to survive in the days when various crises, both domestic and international, hit, such as the Tom Yum Kung crisis, the subprime crisis, natural disasters such as major floods, earthquakes or droughts, and the COVID-19 crisis. We have passed all those tests with strength and have continuously supported entrepreneurs with true understanding, accessibility, and cooperation. ECOT has played an important role in proposing labor policies and strengthening the potential of entrepreneurs and workers, so it can be said that ECOT is a clear voice of the Thai private sector, both nationally, in ASEAN, and on the world stage. We adhere to the principle of "decent work", which is not just about people having jobs, but also about having jobs with dignity, having sufficient income, being safe, and being treated fairly, which is an important foundation for peaceful coexistence leading to constructive labor relations, a good quality of life, a quality society, and a stable economy. The

Employers' Confederation of Thailand recognizes the importance of migrant workers in the labor and economic sectors of the country, including the movement of such workers in a borderless world. We have made an important contribution to deepen the readiness of skills amidst the challenges of geopolitical, technological and climate change, as well as competition and the movement of resources without borders and limitations, all of which have a significant impact on the stability of the labor sector and the sustainability of entrepreneurs. The approach that ECOT will take next is the “ECOT Digital ACADEMY”, which will be the center for driving the development and preparation of entrepreneurs, workers and those who will enter the labor sector based on Technology/Digital/AI, with strong cooperation from network partners such as ICDL, one of ECOT’s strategic partners.

Mr. Boonsong said that he would like to congratulate on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the Employers' Confederation of Thailand, which has been walking side by side with the Ministry of Labor, as the main pillar of the country in driving the country's economy forward along with employment. The operations of various sectors have worked together with the Ministry of Labor, jointly driving important missions, especially the development of labor protection laws in line with the economic and social context, promoting new-era labor skills to support the Digital Economy, expanding social protection, and participating in sustainable CSR. ECOT is considered the foundation of the country's economy. The Employers' Confederation of Thailand is considered the one who determines the country's GDP. One thing that is a source of pride is that the Ministry of Labor and the Employers' Confederation of Thailand have raised labor standards through the ILO convention on June 10, 2025. They announced their intention to implement the ILO Convention 155 and proactively reform laws, including preparing Thailand's workforce for the future workforce.

M.R. Nongkran Champhunut, President of the Digital Council for the Economy and Society of Thailand He expressed his congratulations and delivered a special lecture on the topic of DCT and the driving force of Thailand's digital industry. He said that over the past 48 years, the Employers' Confederation of Thailand (ECOT) has proven its important role as a pillar of the Thai labor sector in promoting private businesses to support effective business management and being a center of cooperation between employers and employees, as well as cooperation between business operators, the private sector, and the government sector to jointly drive the country's economy forward. Therefore, he would like to express his appreciation and congratulations for the success in all aspects over the past 48 years. The Digital Council for the Economy and Society of Thailand has an important mission to drive the country into a fully digital era by promoting the development of digital technology and innovation in all sectors to lead to the development of people's quality of life in all aspects. There is cooperation between the government sector, the private sector, and civil society, developing digital human resources of all ages, and developing Thailand to be a center for digital development in the region. Today, the Digital Council has recognized the importance of the project to enhance digital capabilities and the use of AI in the Thai business and labor sectors, and to prepare for rapid changes in the digital economy era. In the future, the Digital Council and the Employers' Confederation will work together to drive the country, elevate digital knowledge and skills and AI to develop businesses and industries in the country, and elevate the development of Thai labor skills to be able to adapt and grow with exponential technologies.

While Dr. Athip Asawanant, Director of the Digital Council for the Economy and Society of Thailand, gave a special lecture on the topic of “Future Workforce in the AI ​​Era: How will employers survive in an era where: Unskilled people will be unemployed, skilled people will resign, and the economy will shrink?” that when AI comes, there will be a huge number of unemployed people. Every time technology is disrupted, unskilled people will be unemployed. Skilled people will not stay with us because they will start new businesses to compete until the original employers cannot survive. And when the number of workers is reduced to use AI, the money will be sent directly to foreign countries, which will definitely cause the economy to shrink in the next 10 years. Some people may think that AI is good, but most economists say that it will make people poorer, but they cannot avoid using it because if they do not use AI, they will not be able to compete with their competitors. The Digital Council is the only private sector that joined the meeting with the Prime Minister on the AI ​​board. Investment in startups and technology in Thailand is where foreigners mostly invest their money, mostly in Singapore, Indonesia, and others, where Thailand has received more investment than Myanmar and Laos, Cambodia in this region. Currently, Thailand is only above these 3 countries. The quality of Thai labor skills has not improved, which is contrary to the increasing wages. For example, in Vietnam, the wages of workers are half as low as in Thailand. And the labor force is more skilled than us. Therefore, it is not surprising that foreigners do not invest in Thailand but rather invest abroad. When AI rushes in, it will directly affect the Employers' Council and employers. Therefore, the entire system must be adjusted in order to be able to compete on the world stage.
The Employers' Confederation of Thailand (ECOT) has been committed to its mission in every dimension as a representative of employers in the tripartite work for the past 48 years to strengthen the unity between employers, employees and the government, to raise the country's labor standards to international standards in the form of decent work, to increase the potential of Thai workers to be on par with other countries by promoting knowledge, development and training to meet the needs of employers, to provide assistance and advice on labor practices and laws to members and general entrepreneurs, to be a representative of Thai employers in expressing their opinions on labor in international forums, and to cooperate with various international labor organizations to jointly solve labor problems for both Thai and migrant workers, etc.