In partnership with the Rangsit Labour Union Group (RLUG), UnionAID is supporting a vital project to build collective strength and improve working conditions for platform food delivery riders in Thailand. This initiative focuses on organising riders in Rangsit, Pathum Thanee province, and expanding networks to Bangkok and Lop Buri provinces.
The challenge
Platform work is a rapidly growing sector globally, and in Thailand, food delivery riders often face precarious working conditions and payment cuts. Despite the increasing prevalence of this work, union representation for platform riders remains extremely low, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. Most riders are men aged between 30 and 60, many of whom are laid-off factory, agricultural, or construction workers, including some affected by post-COVID factory closures or those with university backgrounds.
The Rangsit Labour Union Group (RLUG) has been engaging with food delivery riders in Rangsit for the past five years, inviting them to study groups and seminars. Building on this relationship, RLUG successfully facilitated the establishment of the Rangsit Platform Riders Union in January 2025, starting with an initial group of nine riders. This project aims to build on this foundational work to empower more riders.
Taking collective action
This project aims to improve riders’ wages and conditions through strategic organising and collective bargaining. Over a 12-month period, from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026, a part-time organiser will support the programme. Working directly with platform food delivery riders, RLUG will:
- Raise awareness among riders about the necessity of collective organisation to improve their work and lives.
- Build campaigns around critical issues affecting riders, such as cuts to their delivery payments.
- Unionise platform food delivery riders through a two-step process: establishing strong networks of riders, followed by formal union organisation.
- Develop key leaders from within the rider community to drive organising efforts.
- Integrate the unionisation of platform riders into the wider union movement.
- Link RLUG’s organising efforts with the international campaign by the International Labour Union Council towards a Recommendation and Convention at the ILO for platform workers.
The project will be led by Sriprai Nonsee, a currently unpaid RLUG organiser, who will work part-time (20 hours a week) on this initiative.
Photo: Sriprai meeting with deliver riders
Project activities
Project activities will include regular visits to rider gathering places and the establishment of networks in Rangsit, Bangkok, and Lop Buri. They will run a series of monthly study groups and a two-day seminar. The curriculum will cover essential topics such as understanding changing employment patterns and capitalist exploitation, platform workers’ rights under labour law, strategies for collective action and bargaining power, and networking to expand collaboration. It will also delve into international conventions and advocacy through the ILO campaign, and collaboration on policy proposals with political parties and the Ministry of Labour to improve regulations for platform workers.
Why this matters
Strong unions are essential for ensuring decent work and protecting workers’ rights. By empowering platform food delivery riders to bargain collectively, this project aims to transform precarious jobs into sustainable livelihoods that support families and communities. While most riders are men, the project actively engages with and supports women and LGBTQI+ riders, ensuring that all voices are heard and included in the movement towards fairer working conditions. This initiative is crucial for giving a collective voice to a vulnerable workforce and addressing the systemic challenges they face in the rapidly evolving gig economy.
