Draft:Ruttiya Bhula-or

Dr Ruttiya Bhula-or is a socioeconomic demographer at the College of Population Studies , where she also serves as Director/Coordinator of the Labour Research and Coordination Research Unit (CU-COLLAR). She has led multiple national and international research projects focusing on migration, labour market dynamics, gender, aging and climate change adaptation, with an emphasis on inclusive development.

Early Life and EducationShe was born in Bangkok, Thailand, and is the only child in her family. Her father passed away when she was 13 years old. Despite this hardship, she developed a strong interest in economics and social policy early on. She was actively involved in student activities, both during high school and her undergraduate studies in Economics at Chulalongkorn University, where she specialized in International Economics and Development Economics. She served as an elected member of the student council and held various leadership roles. Additionally, she tutored mathematics and managed extracurricular classes during her studies.

She went on to earn a Master’s degree in Labour Economics and Human Resource Management from Chulalongkorn University. After working as a researcher, consultant, and programme officer for several years, Dr. Bhula-or completed her PhD at the University of Tokyo in 2015. Her doctoral research focused on empowering low-skilled migrant workers through grievance mechanisms, offering a comparative study between Thailand and Japan.

Research and Career

She has led significant research efforts in labor economics, demographic, and social policy. Dr. Bhula-or has contributed to policy development through her key supportive role in organizing the National Labour Research Centre at Thailand’s Ministry of Labour, where she serves as Secretariat, and Collaborating Centre for Labour Research (CU-COLLAR), at Chulalongkorn University. The Centre has become an essential platform for addressing labour market issues and guiding research-driven policies related to labour rights, employment, and social protection, bridging academic research and policies.

Dr. Bhula-or has also played a critical role in parliamentary discussions on labour market reform and social protection. Her work on labour market adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic was presented to Thailand’s Senate, providing evidence that influenced key policy decisions. She has regularly contributed to policy dialogues at the national level, helping shape labour and employment strategies through a research-driven approach.

Selected Awards and Recognitions

She has received several awards and recognitions for her work in labour research and policy. In 2024, she was awarded the National Research Council of Thailand award for her project titled "Innovation to Enhance Job Security and Income for Pre-Aging and Older Workers in the Informal Sector,". This project focused on using digital platforms to improve job security and income for informal workers in Thailand.

She has also been involved in various international collaborations, working with organizations. Her involvement in international collaborations is extensive; for example, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)https://www.unicef.org/thailand/media/10746/file/In-depth%20research%20on%20youth%20NEET%20in%20Thailand.pdf, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/262141468118140200/pdf/698220WP0v20P10se0Only060Box370022B.pdf. She is also the Thailand Country Lead for the Global Labour Organization. Her contributions has supported policy discussions on migration, labour market adaptation, and the informal economy, influencing both national and regional labour strategies across Asia and the Pacific.

Her work has been covered by both Thai and international media. She has been featured in outlets, for example, the Diplomat , the 101.World and the Nation for her research on labour market trends, migration, gender, aging and socio-economic issues in Thailand. Her research on labour market adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, has been noted for its contribution to national policy discussions.

In addition to media coverage, she has published her research in various academic journals. She has also authored several policy briefs, including those presented at ASEAN forums, population and development, and MIPPA voluntary updates, contributing to policy discussions at the national and regional levels.