Vulnerable Workers on the Move: A Study of Health, Safety, and Working Conditions among Bangkok's Motorcycle Taxi Drivers

In 2023, Thailand transitioned into a full-fledged aging society, with the population aged 60 and above reaching 13,193,217.There has been a continuous increase in the informal and elderly workforce, resulting in 4,434,723 informal laborers.This research paper aims to examine the working conditions, health, and safety of informal workers who serve as motorcycle taxi drivers in Bangkok.A quantitative research approach was employed, utilizing a questionnaire survey as the data collection tool, which was administered to 400 motorcycle taxi drivers across 50 sub districts in Bangkok.The findings revealed that the majority of elderly informal workers in Bangkok, particularly motorcycle taxi drivers, are male (97.50 percent).The predominant age group was between 60 and 65 years, comprising 85.50 percent of the participants.Approximately two-thirds had only completed primary education and were married.Half of the respondents worked more than 25 days per month.Regarding work experience, 36.40 percent had 10-20 years of experience.In terms of income, 29.40 percent earned between 301 and 400 baht per day.Additionally, 54.20 percent of the participants reported having a pre-existing health condition, 23.10 percent had experienced accidents (collisions) in the past 12 months, and 6.90 percent had sustained injuries from these accidents.