On August 23, 2021, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin reported the progress on the payment of remedies to workers and entrepreneurs in the highest controlled provinces. He said that Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha and Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan is concerned about self-employed people in agriculture, fisheries, hawker stalls, taxi groups, general contractors, restaurant staff, front desk staff, singers, musicians, night workers, and freelancers, who have applied for Section 40 to receive 5,000 Baht per person in compensation. The payment was made through transfer via a PromptPay account linked to their ID number, made to insured persons in the 16 additional provinces which announced lockdowns, namely, Kanchanaburi, Samut Songkhram, Suphan Buri, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ratchaburi, Ang Thong, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Lop Buri, Rayong, Sing Buri, Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phetchabun, and Tak, including the three provinces that had previously announced lockdown, namely Chonburi, Chachoengsao, and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, for a total of 19 provinces. Such workers who applied as an insured person under Section 40 and have contributed to meet the criteria will receive remedies by August 24, 2021.
Mr. Suchart added that the Prime Minister cares about freelance workers in the areas that have been remedied according to the Cabinet’s resolution to expand to more provinces. Therefore, he charged the Social Security Office to accelerate payments for self-employed people and speed up applications within August 24. Applicants can choose a method that is convenient to them and pay immediately through the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), the 7-11 counter services, the Big-C counter services, or other channels such as online via www.sso.go.th, through social security network agents or the Ministry of Labour’s 1506 hotline. The payments must be made within 24 August to be entitled to the remedies. The Social Security Office (SSO) will only transfer the remedies via PromptPay linked to an ID card number. Section 40 insured persons entitled to remedies that have not opened a bank account or have a bank account but have not linked PromptPay with an ID card number must do so quickly or change their PromptPay account linked with a mobile phone number to be linked with their ID card number. Section 40 insured persons, according to the conditions within the 29 provinces, can check their rights through www.sso.go.th of the Social Security Office immediately. For more information, please call the 1506 hotline, available 24 hours daily.
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Division of Public Relations
23 August 2021
