Precarious work, characterized by the uncertainty and unpredictability of employment, is well established in Thailand. This article examines the expansion of new forms of precarious work in Thailand with particular attention to the post–Asian economic crisis period. This is done through an examination of the currently available data. The post-1997 period has seen economic liberalization deepen, and this has delivered policies and practices that have weakened unions, kept wages low, and expanded the use of contract and agency-supplied labor. At the same time, there have been gains for in terms of state-based social protection. In two case studies, the article demonstrates that for workers in the manufacturing sector, there has been an increase in labor subcontracting or outsourcing and other forms of less secure work as employers seek to reduce costs and limit collective organization by workers.
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