On September 3, 2020, at the Social Security Office (Headquarters) on Tiwanon Road, Nonthaburi, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin handed over the policies on the Social Security occasion Office’s 30th anniversary. Permanent Secretary of Labour Mr. Suthi Sukosol, the Ministry of Labour’s executives, the Social Security Office’s Secretary-General Mr. Tosapol Kritawongwiman, executives and officials from the Social Security Office gave a welcoming. The Labour Minister also highlighted urgent and important policies in driving operations and the direction of work for the Social Security Office that is ready to step into its 31st year.
Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin told the media that he had given policies to the Social Security Office to apply, emphasizing driving the country. In particular, it focuses on accelerating the economic recovery after the Covid-19 situation eases. The Labour Minister introduced the policy of “Uniting Thailand to Build a Nation,” including the establishment of the National Labour Administration Center within the Ministry of Labour, for aligned integration, collaboration, and proactive focus, which will help resolve problems and support the workforce promptly. The initiatives will support the nation, especially impacted SMEs and the unemployed people, with measures to compensate for income. For example, employees of companies affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, insured persons under Section 33 of social security who have remitted contributions for less than six months in 15 months, will receive remedies for three months. The policies include measures to reduce the rate of social security contributions to employers and insured persons from 5% to 2% of wages (September – November 2020). It also includes proactive measures for unemployed workers to get benefits quickly, paid under the labour protection, and social security laws that are correct and complete, including creating incentives for businesses to continue to hire and use the crisis to develop the organization to be more efficient and competitive. It has developed a credit program to promote employment, through collaboration between the Social Security Office and banks, providing low-interest loans with a credit limit of 30,000 million Baht. The initiative will enhance liquidity for companies and promote the potential to maintain continuous employment.
Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin spoke about the important policies and direction for the Social Security Office’s operations. He determined that the Social Security Office has measures to promote, protect, develop and build social security for informal workers by driving social security networks throughout Thailand through the mechanism of “Bowon” which includes the home, temple, school, and factory. The initiative is together with relevant agencies in both the public and private sectors, including the development of social security benefits under Section 40 in case of death and disability. Directions also include studying the form of protection for new occupation groups, including the Safety & Healthy Thailand project for insurers through the 3H (Helping – Healthy – Harmless) mechanism, which is proactively promoting health and disease prevention in the workplace. Efforts further include the development of benefits following the economic and social conditions, to support the aging society.
In 2019, the Social Security Office developed benefits for insured employees through enhancing the efficiency of providing medical services, such as increasing the funeral fee for insured persons under Section 33 from 40,000 Baht to 50,000 Baht. It also increased the age limit for insurers under Section 40 from the original limit of 60 years to 65 years and has increased unemployment benefits by amending the Ministerial Regulation to increase benefits from force majeure resulting from Covid-19 and unemployment from the impact of the economy.
For 2021, the Social Security Office will develop to be more aligned with the economic and social conditions, supporting the elderly society. It aims to increase disability benefits in the income-deficiency compensation from 50% to 70% of the wages, increasing the period for maternity leave allowance from 90 days to 98 days, provided child allowance to insured persons who cease to be an employee, to receive child benefit compensation for the six months. For funeral expenses from the Compensation Fund for death cases due to work, the allowance will be adjusted from 40,000 Baht to 50,000 Baht. The SSO will enhance the quality of services to employers, insured persons, and the public via electronic systems such as e-Service, Application, Web Application, and Mobile Application to support the digital government initiative by the Social Security Office. It will also offer additional payment channels through leading banks and services, facilitating contributions via internet systems, and payment of contributions through E-payment systems via nine leading banks. The system will allow self-printing receipts via the E-receipt system. Payments from the workers’ compensation fund (e-Compensate) will allow workers to receive benefits through the E-claim system. The platform will provide services for insured person registrations under Section 40 and receive and follow up complaints via the 1506 hotline, 24 hours a day. There will be a database linked with government agencies to increase the efficiency of services such as civil registration with the Department of Provincial Administration, employer and insured person information with the Revenue Department, business registration details with the Department of Business Development, and bankruptcy information with the Legal Execution Department. Employers will also be able to register employees through the WPD system, for example.
For the Social Security Office’s 30th anniversary, the morning hosted a monk ceremony and awards ceremony to the Social Security Office supporters. This included hospitals, outstanding companies, and outstanding personnel and moral organizations of the Social Security Office, totaling 135 persons. In the afternoon, the event hosted an academic discussion on “Strengthening the Social Security Network” from government speakers and speakers in the social security network sector.
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Division of Public Relations
