November 30, 2025, 17.00 hours – Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharak, Permanent Secretary of Labour, joined a meeting with business operators, the Provincial Chamber of Commerce, and the business sector of Songkhla Province to monitor the impact of flooding in the area. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, and attended by Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Professor Emeritus Borwornsak Uwanno, Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Aekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr. Parador Prisananantakul, Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, Mrs. Suphajee Suthumpun, Minister of Commerce, Mr. Sakda Wichiansilp, Deputy Minister of the Interior, along with government agencies and private-sector representatives in the area. The meeting was held at Burisri Phu Hotel, Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province.
The purpose of the meeting was to hear directly from the private sector regarding the impacts of the disaster, in order to determine recovery measures through integrated cooperation among all sectors, including military, police, civil service, and administrative authorities, so that affected citizens receive assistance as quickly as possible and Hat Yai can be restored to normal conditions without delay.
The Permanent Secretary of Labour outlined three urgent measures to support employers and insured persons affected by flooding in the southern region:
Measure 1: The Ministry of Labour, through the Social Security Office, will provide unemployment benefits due to force majeure in cases of natural disasters where insured persons are unable to work, or establishments cannot operate. Insured persons will receive 50% of their daily wages for up to 180 days.
Measure 2: A credit programme to promote employment with low-interest loans for establishments to maintain employment, in collaboration with seven banks. For loans with collateral, the fixed interest rate for the first three years will be no more than 2.35% per annum; for loans without collateral, the rate will be no more than 4.75% per annum.
Measure 3: Extension of the deadline for submitting Social Security contributions. The submission period for employer and insured-person contributions under Sections 33 and 39 in disaster-affected areas will be extended for six contribution periods, as follows:
- November 2025 contributions: by March 15, 2026
- December 2025 contributions: by April 15, 2026
- January 2026 contributions: by May 15, 2026
- February 2026 contributions: by June 15, 2026
- March 2026 contributions: by July 15, 2026
- April 2026 contributions: by August 15, 2026
These measures aim to reduce expenses and ease hardship for employers, employees, and insured persons during the disaster period, preventing late contribution payments, additional surcharges, and loss of entitled benefits.
