On February 20, 2020, at 14.00 hours at the Saengsingkaew conference room, 5th floor, Ministry of Labour. The Social Security Office’s Secretariat Mr. Todsaphon Kritwongwiman, assigned the Social Security Office’s Inspector-General Ms. Pailin Chindamaneeporn led representative groups and insurers under Section 40. Mr. Phatthaphong Kittiwiriyaphant, along with the faculty of Social Security Networks and representative insurers under Section 40 from the central region, consisting of 6 provinces including Suphanburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Ang Thong, Pathum Thani, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, which are 26 independent worker representatives. The faculty also included trading groups, home workers, weaving groups, agricultural labour groups, and general contractors. The faculty met and thanked Labour Minister M.R. Chatumongol Sonakul, who has supported and pushed for the amendment of laws to extend the age of the insurers under Section 40 to independent workers aged 60 to 65 years, to be able to enter the social security coverage section 40.
Labour Minister M.R. Chatumongol Sonakul revealed that the Ministry of Labour attaches importance to the push of government policies that focus on creating fairness and reducing social inequality for people of all ages, genders, and groups. In response to the said policy, the Ministry of Labour by the Social Security Office has accelerated the process of social protection by expanding coverage to secure stable lives and to improve the quality of life of the people. The extension of the age to those who may apply under Section 40 is another option, which provides an opportunity for people aged 60 to 65 years to be able to use as an insurer under Section 40 and is part of the process of expanding social coverage to cover even more people.
As for the push to amend the law to extend the age of the insured under Section 40, the process for amendment of the age extension law is currently under consideration of the Royal Decree on the person’s qualifications, which may apply to be an insurer (No. ..) B.E. … on December 25, 2019. The Office of the Council of State passed the consideration on January 31, 2020. Currently, it is in the process of the Office of the Council of State which sent a draft of the Royal Decree for the Ministry to confirm, before delivering the draft Royal Decree back to the Office of the Council of State, to further present to the Cabinet for acknowledgment and be announced in the Royal Gazette, respectively. The extension is expected to come into effect in 2020.
Labour Minister M.R. Chatumongol Sonakul thanked the insured representatives under Section 40, which plays an essential role in driving social security coverage. He sincerely hopes that the extension of the age for independent workers aged 60 to 65 years will be able to enter the Social Security Protection under Section 40 in the future. He asked for the workers’ cooperation to participate in driving the extension of Social Security Coverage under Section 40 in the elderly group, to have social security and sustainability.
Division of Public Relations
20 February 2020
