Around 200 nurses and medical personnel gathered on the morning of 16 March 2026 at the flagpole courtyard of Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital in Muang district, Chiang Rai, to protest a new policy requiring 12-hour work shifts. Demonstrators held placards with messages including “People are not robots”, “Return quality of life to nurses”, “Frontline staff will not tolerate this”, and “We do not want 12-hour shifts”. The protest reflected concerns that extended working hours could lead to fatigue and compromise patient safety.

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The protest followed an announcement by the Nursing Council introducing new working-hour guidelines requiring nurses to work 12-hour shifts. Staff members said the change would significantly affect their daily routines and wellbeing, particularly for overnight shifts running from 20:00 to 08:00. Nurses argued that due to staffing shortages and the wide range of patient conditions, it would be difficult to rotate rest periods during such long shifts and will effect patient care.

A representative of the nurses said the group was calling for a return to the traditional eight-hour shift system. They claimed hospital administrators had not consulted staff before the new schedule was introduced and had instead proceeded without addressing concerns raised by frontline workers. According to the group, the new system was presented as voluntary but duty rosters were reportedly prepared in advance to implement the 12-hour shifts beginning in April.

The nurses also criticised compensation under the proposed system, saying the payment offered was not reasonable compared with the increased workload and longer hours. They warned that exhaustion among medical staff could directly affect patient care and safety. The protest aimed to draw attention to these concerns and urge hospital management to reconsider the policy.

Picture courtesy of Amarin

Later, Dr Premchai Tirangkul, Deputy Director for Medical Affairs at Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital, met with the demonstrators to listen to their concerns and clarify the hospital’s position. He explained that if any department or ward was not ready to adopt the 12-hour shift system, staff could continue working under the previous eight-hour schedule. Following the discussion, the nurses and medical personnel dispersed and returned to their duties.

Amarin reported that Dr Premchai said the new shift policy was expected to affect nurses’ lifestyles but emphasised that it was intended to be voluntary. He added that individual wards or departments could decide whether they were able to implement the extended shifts. Units that were uncomfortable with the arrangement or faced operational difficulties would not be required to adopt it.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Amarin 17 Mar 2026

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I recall conversing with a lady working as a Visa agent who regaled me of her tale of working as a nurse prior. She came out with a litany against a particular hospital in town, which had caused her to give up the job. Don't know if it is general or peculiar to certain hospitals.

Govt hospitals are so busy must be a very stressful job, daily PTSD

Awww, poor nurses.

That is a really hard job, especially working overnight.

12 hour shifts must be really hard.

It is a pity that there are no rules in Thailand for working hours and managers/bosses are abusing people with long working hours. Nobody should work more than 8 hours a day. 12hours for nurses is too much. Even in the Covid time we could read that doctors and nurses collapsed because of the long working hours. But as usual it is all about money. The profits must go up, and prices and the people are being handled like modern slaves.. Nurses have to work hard, surely in Government hospitals. they are so stressed sometimes, and that can result in mistakes and/or cost lives... No 12 hours but 3 shifts of 8 hours max

54 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Awww, poor nurses.

That is a really hard job, especially working overnight.

12 hour shifts must be really hard.

Let's pray your not the last patient she or he

sees at the eleventh hour !

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

Around 200 nurses and medical personnel gathered on the morning of 16 March 2026 at the flagpole courtyard of Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital in Muang district, Chiang Rai, to protest a new policy requiring 12-hour work shifts. Demonstrators held placards with messages including “People are not robots”, “Return quality of life to nurses”, “Frontline staff will not tolerate this”, and “We do not want 12-hour shifts”. The protest reflected concerns that extended working hours could lead to fatigue and compromise patient safety.

Get today's headlines by email

The protest followed an announcement by the Nursing Council introducing new working-hour guidelines requiring nurses to work 12-hour shifts. Staff members said the change would significantly affect their daily routines and wellbeing, particularly for overnight shifts running from 20:00 to 08:00. Nurses argued that due to staffing shortages and the wide range of patient conditions, it would be difficult to rotate rest periods during such long shifts and will effect patient care.

A representative of the nurses said the group was calling for a return to the traditional eight-hour shift system. They claimed hospital administrators had not consulted staff before the new schedule was introduced and had instead proceeded without addressing concerns raised by frontline workers. According to the group, the new system was presented as voluntary but duty rosters were reportedly prepared in advance to implement the 12-hour shifts beginning in April.

The nurses also criticised compensation under the proposed system, saying the payment offered was not reasonable compared with the increased workload and longer hours. They warned that exhaustion among medical staff could directly affect patient care and safety. The protest aimed to draw attention to these concerns and urge hospital management to reconsider the policy.

Picture courtesy of Amarin

Later, Dr Premchai Tirangkul, Deputy Director for Medical Affairs at Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital, met with the demonstrators to listen to their concerns and clarify the hospital’s position. He explained that if any department or ward was not ready to adopt the 12-hour shift system, staff could continue working under the previous eight-hour schedule. Following the discussion, the nurses and medical personnel dispersed and returned to their duties.

Amarin reported that Dr Premchai said the new shift policy was expected to affect nurses’ lifestyles but emphasised that it was intended to be voluntary. He added that individual wards or departments could decide whether they were able to implement the extended shifts. Units that were uncomfortable with the arrangement or faced operational difficulties would not be required to adopt it.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Amarin 17 Mar 2026

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I know someone who quit working at a popular hospital in Bangkok and I hear the working conditions are awful. Overworked and under staffed leading to fatigue and a poor quality of life. There is no love for the management of this hospital. The patients don't see any of this of course but it will affect quality of care.

Change from 8hr regular shift with 4hrs compulsory overtime to a 12hr shift regular shift!

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Awww, poor nurses.

That is a really hard job, especially working overnight.

12 hour shifts must be really hard.

When I was in hospital , nurses were sleeping part of the night.

So not such a hard job working overnight.

2 minutes ago, FlorC said:

When I was in hospital , nurses were sleeping part of the night.

That's good if they let them sleep.

Happy to hear that.

Night shift is tough.

5 minutes ago, FlorC said:

When I was in hospital , nurses were sleeping part of the night.

So not such a hard job working overnight.

By any chance did you ask the nurses how long they had been working that day?

Many doctors, nurses and other medical specialists work double shifts, 16 hours straight, no breaks, maybe 3, 4, 5, 6 days a week.

A pharmacist friend works double shifts, 6 days a week, she sleeps in a bed at the hospital, gets to go home (about 15 kms from the hospital) one day week to see her husband, children and wash her clothes. Sadly, many nurses and assistant nurses are in the same position. Not enough staff, unable to recruit new staff, not enough money to recruit new staff. Even my local army hospital has a severe shortage of nursing staff.

At a nearby smallish district hospital, there is usually one (ONE) doctor on duty over the Songkran period (4 days). One doctor, 4 days straight!!!

17 minutes ago, JimHuaHin said:

By any chance did you ask the nurses how long they had been working that day?

Many doctors, nurses and other medical specialists work double shifts, 16 hours straight, no breaks, maybe 3, 4, 5, 6 days a week.

A pharmacist friend works double shifts, 6 days a week, she sleeps in a bed at the hospital, gets to go home (about 15 kms from the hospital) one day week to see her husband, children and wash her clothes. Sadly, many nurses and assistant nurses are in the same position. Not enough staff, unable to recruit new staff, not enough money to recruit new staff. Even my local army hospital has a severe shortage of nursing staff.

At a nearby smallish district hospital, there is usually one (ONE) doctor on duty over the Songkran period (4 days). One doctor, 4 days straight!!!

No I did not ask.

They were busy not responding to all the beeping machines.

Even if you do double shifts , you shouldn't be allow to sleep.

9 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I recall conversing with a lady working as a Visa agent who regaled me of her tale of working as a nurse prior. She came out with a litany against a particular hospital in town, which had caused her to give up the job. Don't know if it is general or peculiar to certain hospitals.

Without giving libellous or sensitive info away what were her core complaints?

As usual, an ill-thought-out action and poor decision making with no consultation... exploitation is exploitation and easy to see here.

If you want 12-hour shifts from people, at least have the decency to make the pay attractive enough... instead of this typical indifferent fascist Asian culture managment style. Of course people will be annoyed, especially in and important sector like health... completely tone-deaf decision that will be walked back eventually.

A rapid step back when he saw the nurses weren't having it. Same old captain of the ship mentality here. You must do what I tell you to because I'm in charge. No thought just policy on the run expecting no complaints.

Look, I can only speak to Canada, where nurses work three 12-hour shifts in a row. And then get four days off. All the nurses I know think it's a win-win.

5 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Look, I can only speak to Canada, where nurses work three 12-hour shifts in a row. And then get four days off. All the nurses I know think it's a win-win.

In France, working night or weekend shifts means more money and that's why a lot of medical personnel do it, it's even part of their career plan, then in their 50s they ease off as it becomes too tiring. But they have a choice and it is financially worth it. I knew a French cardiologist who would make 1,000 euros during a single weekend shift.

14 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

Without giving libellous or sensitive info away what were her core complaints?

Working extra time without pay, and being ripped off for some obligatory accommodation. Some middle management taking advantage.

And still there are posts from the self-insured (sic) crowd that 'no problem' when you self-pay -- just go to the government hospital.

15 hours ago, Sir Dude said:

As usual, an ill-thought-out action and poor decision making with no consultation... exploitation is exploitation and easy to see here.

If you want 12-hour shifts from people, at least have the decency to make the pay attractive enough... instead of this typical indifferent fascist Asian culture managment style. Of course people will be annoyed, especially in and important sector like health... completely tone-deaf decision that will be walked back eventually.

There are 3 nurses within my circle of friends they all work on Chonburi.

They work 8hr regular shifts with compulsory 4hr over time (paid at 1.5x) 5 days a week.

They will be pissed off if they are forced onto 12hr regular shifts as they will lose money.

Am surprised 12hr regular shift was signed off by the labor department.

On 3/18/2026 at 5:43 AM, JerryM said:

And still there are posts from the self-insured (sic) crowd that 'no problem' when you self-pay -- just go to the government hospital.

Works for me. Great nurses, good doctors...when you find the right one, just like anywhere.

On 3/18/2026 at 7:29 AM, Ralf001 said:

They work 8hr regular shifts with compulsory 4hr over time (paid at 1.5x) 5 days a week.

They will be pissed off if they are forced onto 12hr regular shifts as they will lose money.

Right. The nurses should get a good pay bump for this.

On 3/17/2026 at 7:29 PM, Ralf001 said:

There are 3 nurses within my circle of friends they all work on Chonburi.

They work 8hr regular shifts with compulsory 4hr over time (paid at 1.5x) 5 days a week.

They will be pissed off if they are forced onto 12hr regular shifts as they will lose money.

Am surprised 12hr regular shift was signed off by the labor department.

It does appear this new policy would be a pay cut, since the maximum is said to be 52 hours per week. Under the system you mention, they would be working 60 hours, so they would now get 8 less overtime hours.

But it appears the entire thing has been paused due to the attention the protest received.

https://x.com/ThaiEnquirer/status/2034227445843599711