The Labour Minister confirmed that the Social Security Office has currently paid unemployment benefits to 984,005 insured persons, totaling over 5,316.066 million Baht. For those who haven’t received payment as the employer has not yet provided notification or a certificate of absence, the Labour Minister has ordered officials to follow up with the employers soon.
Labour Minister M.R. Chatu Mongol Sonakul reported that the Ministry of Labour’s Social Security Office has paid unemployment benefits due to force majeure from the COVID-19 situation to 984,005 insured persons (as of May 18, 2020) in the amount of 5,316.066 million Baht. For those who have not received payment due to incomplete documentation, the Social Security Office has already notified the results by registered mail.
For those who have already applied for the benefits but have not yet received payment or who have received a letter rejecting the payment of the said benefits, insured persons can file their case through various channels as follows: 1. Self-filing COVID-19 Report Center, Social Security Office, Ministry of Labour, located at the Bangkok Social Security Office in all 12 areas and the Social Security Offices in every province, including the Social Security Office Headquarters, Tiwanon Road, Talat Khwan, Mueang, Nonthaburi. All centers are open on business days, operating from 8:00 to 18.00 hours. 2. File by post at the address of the Bangkok Social Security Office in all 12 areas and the Social Security Offices in every province, including the Social Security Office Headquarters, Tiwanon Road, Talat Khwan, Mueang, Nonthaburi. However, the appeal cannot be submitted online.
M.R. Chatu Mongol Sonakul further said that submitting an application for unemployment rights due to force majeure according to the “Ministerial Regulations for receiving unemployment benefits due to force majeure caused by the pandemic of dangerous communicable diseases under the communicable disease law B.E. 2563”, states that persons entitled to receive unemployment funds are entitled to no more than 90 days during the period of absence and no payment from March 1, 2020 to August 31, 2020. Following Article 56 of the Social Security Act B.E. 2533 and amendments, it stipulates that the insured can apply for rights within 2 years from the date of entitlements.
“Insured persons who have received a letter rejecting to pay the said benefits can file an appeal following the above channels within 30 days from the date the insured person is informed (the date of receipt of the registered letter). For insured persons who have not received the payment as the employer has not provided notice of absence or if some employers are uncontactable because of relocation and therefore the phone number is not current or if the company is closed, in this regard, staff will be deployed to the area themselves to follow up with the employer or find evidence in order to pay the rights to the insured person as soon as possible,” concluded the Labour Minister.
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Division of Public Relations
19 May 2020
