On June 20, 2021, the Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson (on politics), Mrs. Theanrat Nawamawat, reported the case of MP Jongchai Wongsaithong, MP for Chonburi Province, District 2, the Phalang Pracharath Party, who asked to consider the advanced use of insured persons’ contributions during the Covid-19 outbreak, by taking into account the stability of the fund. 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 Wongsuron is concerned about workers who have been affected by the Covid-19 outbreaks during this period. From the case of MP Jongchai Wongsaithong, MP for Chonburi Province, District 2, Phalang Pracharath Party, who gave his suggestions about the advanced use of insured person contributions first during the Covid-19 outbreak, taking into account the stability of the fund. Firstly, he thanked the people for their feedback and said that the Ministry of Labour attaches importance to foreseeing the future of the Social Security Fund. In the case of using future contributions of insured persons, in this regard, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin had an idea before taking the position of Labour Minister. When he took the position, he accepted suggestions from various groups by meeting to discuss, report on progress, and listen to the opinions from all concerned parties by trying to find various channels for such proposals to be effective. The effort alleviates the suffering of insured persons. It has been considered in the Social Security Committee meetings several times, whereby the Social Security Office was asked to consult the Council of State and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance until finally the provisions in the law on social security were concisely defined those contributions can only be used once insured persons are retired, i.e., at 55 years of age or older, and not in the status of an employee. Therefore, the Social Security Act must be amended. The Social Security Office has expedited the amendment of the law according to the procedure.
Mrs. Thienrat added that the progress of the amendment of the Social Security Act has now sought opinions from all stakeholders and has drafted an amendment to the law already. Within the next week, it will be brought to the Ministry of Labour’s drafting committee to consider reviewing the draft law, and then proposed to the Cabinet for consideration before being brought into the House of Representatives to consider further amendments.
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Division of Public Relations
20 June 2021
