Conservation activist Psi Samut calls for foreign workers to learn Thai

Conservation activist Psi Samut has called on foreign workers in Thailand to make an effort to learn Thai, sparking a significant response from Thai social media users. In a post on his X account, Psi shared his observations about foreigners using English in the country, explaining that he typically responds in Thai when they speak English to him. He stated that he prefers to communicate in Thai and considers those who work in Thailand without being able to speak the language to be taking advantage of the country.

Psi also criticized Thai business operators for hiring migrant workers to cut costs, despite the minimum wage for Thai workers not being high. He urged businesses to employ Thai people and encouraged Thai workers to improve their language skills. The activist's comments resonated with many Thai netizens, who expressed agreement with his stance on foreign workers in Thailand.

Some users revealed they had to communicate in English during trips to popular tourist destinations like Phuket and Koh Tao, while others mentioned encountering Indonesian and Filipino employees at hotels catering to tourists.

Several Thai social media users felt uncomfortable having to speak English while traveling or receiving services in their own country, expressing frustration that foreign workers had not made a similar effort to learn Thai. Some called for the government to introduce a Thai language test for foreigners seeking employment, similar to requirements in other countries.

According to a Department of Employment report from November last year, Thailand had between 3.9 and 4 million foreign employees, with the number of foreign workers increasing sharply in 2025 before declining after reaching a peak midway through the year.