Over one-fifth of Thai smokers work in companies, and a newly revamped project aimed at making workplaces smoke-free is being arranged to encourage more people to quit the habit.
The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) held a seminar on smoking among workers yesterday.
Phongsak Thongratana, director of the Health Promotion in Organisations department, said ThaiHealth has endorsed similar projects since 2008.
Since then, about 2,000 companies and other workplaces have become smoke-free, according to Mr Phongsak.
This has helped more than 4,000 workers quit and protected over 300,000 of their colleagues from the risks associated with passive smoking.
Meanwhile, a 2019 study by the National Statistical Office shows that 21% of smokers are of working age.
"ThaiHealth will help firms in the region by setting up smoke-free workplaces and putting in place other systems to help people quit.
These measures will be integrated with the 10,000-plus participants in our 'Happy Workplace' system and other health promotion projects in the workplace," said Mr Phongsak.
Dr Sansanee Keeratiwiriyaporn, a manager at the foundation's Health Promotion in Workplaces Project, said a recent study shows more smokers of working age are considering kicking the habit.
However, 59% of respondents said they had tried to quit by themselves several times but failed due to their environment and force of habit.
Dr Sansanee urged more companies to use the foundation's research as a guideline to make their workplaces smoke-free.