A Thai conservation activist has sparked a heated online debate after criticising foreign workers in Thailand for speaking English at work and calling on them to make greater efforts to communicate in the Thai language.
Siranudh “Psi” Samutt shared his views on X on Saturday, August 8, saying he would normally respond in Thai when foreign employees at restaurants spoke to him in English.
He said that if the staff were unable to understand or take his order in Thai, he would ask to speak to a Thai employee instead.
“I’m in Thailand, and I prefer to speak Thai,” Psi wrote, adding that he believed foreign workers who worked in Thailand without being able to communicate in Thai were taking advantage of the country.
The activist also compared the situation with Thai workers employed overseas, arguing that they are often expected to develop local language skills when working in countries such as Japan and the United States.
Psi further criticised businesses that he claimed chose to hire migrant workers as a way to reduce operating costs, despite Thailand’s minimum wage remaining relatively low. He urged businesses to employ more Thai workers while encouraging local employees to improve their own skills.
His comments drew widespread support from Thai social media users, with many sharing similar experiences involving foreign employees in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Some users said they had been required to communicate in English while travelling or receiving services in Phuket and Koh Tao. Others mentioned encountering Indonesian and Filipino workers employed at hotels and other businesses in popular tourist destinations.
Several commenters said they felt uncomfortable having to rely on English when seeking services in their own country. While some said they were willing to communicate with foreign workers in English, they felt foreigners working in Thailand should make a greater effort to learn Thai.
Some social media users even called for the Government to introduce a Thai-language proficiency test for foreigners seeking employment in Thailand, similar to requirements they claimed were imposed in other countries.
According to a Department of Employment report released in November last year, Thailand had around 3.9 million to 4 million foreign workers, including migrants employed under memorandums of understanding with other countries.
The figures showed that Thailand’s foreign workforce increased significantly during 2025 before beginning to decline after reaching a peak around the middle of the year.
