Thai Conservation Activist Sparks Debate by Urging Foreign Workers to Learn Thai

Thai conservation activist Siranudh “Psi” Samutt has sparked a discussion on social media after criticising foreign workers in Thailand and arguing that those employed in the country should make an effort to learn and use the Thai language.

Psi shared his views about foreign employees speaking English while working in Thailand in a post on his X account, @Psisamutt, on Saturday, August 8.

The activist said that when foreign employees at restaurants address him in English, he normally responds in Thai. If they are unable to take his order in Thai, he said, he asks to speak with a Thai employee instead.

“I’m in Thailand, and I prefer to speak Thai,” Psi wrote. He went on to argue that foreigners who choose to work in Thailand without being able to communicate in Thai are benefiting from the country without making a sufficient effort to adapt to their surroundings.

Psi compared the situation with Thai nationals working overseas. He argued that Thai workers who move abroad are generally expected to develop language skills and adapt to the culture of their host country. He specifically referred to countries such as Japan and the United States as examples of places with strong cultural influence.

The activist also criticised businesses that he believes choose to hire migrant workers primarily to reduce labour costs. He pointed out that Thailand’s minimum wage for local workers is already relatively low and called on companies to provide more employment opportunities for Thai nationals.

At the same time, Psi encouraged Thai workers to develop their professional skills and improve their competitiveness in the labour market.

His comments attracted considerable attention from Thai social media users, many of whom expressed support for his position. Some commenters said they had frequently needed to communicate in English while travelling in tourist destinations such as Phuket and Koh Tao.

Others shared experiences of encountering Indonesian and Filipino employees working at hotels and other businesses in popular tourist areas.

Some Thai users said they felt uncomfortable being required to communicate in English while receiving services in their own country. They said they had made an effort to communicate with foreign workers in English, while feeling that some foreign employees had made comparatively little effort to learn Thai.

Several commenters went further and suggested that the government should introduce a Thai language test for foreigners seeking employment in Thailand, similar to language requirements they said exist in some other countries.

According to a Department of Employment report released in November 2025, Thailand had approximately 3.9 to 4 million foreign workers, including migrant workers employed under memorandums of understanding.

The same data showed that the number of foreign workers increased significantly during 2025. However, the total began to decline after reaching its highest level around the middle of the year.

The discussion highlights broader questions about language, integration and employment in Thailand, particularly in tourist areas where foreign workers are increasingly part of the service industry.