Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin reported that the Prime Minister is concerned for insured workers affected by Covid-19, from the government’s instructions to close establishments or temporary business closure. He instructed the Social Security Office to accelerate payment of remedies for unemployment benefits at 50%, up to 90 days.
On May 9, 2021, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin spoke about the assistance to employees, especially storefront employees, if the government has ordered the temporary closure of establishments due to the Covid-19 situation. The government has announced a ban on eating in stores and only permitting deliveries or take-outs, which has resulted in some storefront staff having to stop working temporarily. The government, under the leadership of Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha, and the Ministry of Labour under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan is concerned for insured persons affected by the Covid-19 outbreak situation. Therefore, he has instructed the Ministry of Labour’s Social Security Office to expedite assistance and remedies for the storefront, restaurant, and other company employees affected by the government’s orders for closure. The Ministry of Labour has issued Ministerial Regulations on unemployment benefits in the event of force majeure due to the outbreak of dangerous infectious diseases following the Communicable Disease Act B.E. 2563. The Act states that in the event of force majeure that causes employees who are insured persons who have the right to receive compensation benefits, to become unemployed or the employer does not allow work due to quarantine or monitoring of diseases, or if the employee does not work because the employer has to stop operating the business in whole or in part as a result of government orders for temporary closures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. In such cases where the employee is not paid during that period, the employees are entitled to receive unemployment compensation at the rate of 50 percent of the daily wages. The compensation shall be given throughout quarantine or monitoring of disease outbreaks or during the order to close the said place, as the case may be, for no more than 90 days in total.
Mr. Suchart said that insured persons must fill out and submit a compensation claim form, with their contact number and a copy of the savings passbook attached. The documents must be submitted to the employer to collect the form and record employee information, providing a certificate of unemployment if the government has ordered a temporary closure or quarantine. Once the employer has finished recording the employee information, they must submit the form and the certificate in the e-Service system and send it to the Social Security Office in the area where the establishment is located via registered mail within three working days from the date of recording the information in the e-Service system on www.sso.go.th. For more information, contact the Social Security Office in Bangkok throughout the 12 locations, all provinces, and branches at your convenience, or via the Social Security 1506 Hotline, which is available 24 hours a day.
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Division of Public Relations
9 May 2021
