Social Security Fund
- The deadline for employers to submit compulsory social security forms and remit contributions is extended for the salary of March 2020 to 15 July 2020; for the salary of April 2020 to 15 August 2020; for the salary of May 2020 to 15 September 2020.
- Reduced rate of the contributions by employers from 5 to 4% from March 2020 to August 2020. Rate for insured persons reduced from 5 to 1% for the salaries from March 2020 to May 2020 and reduced rate of 4% from June 2020 to August 2020.
- Voluntarily insured persons: Social Security Fund contribution reduced to 86 Baht per month (from 432 Baht)
Thailand’s Ministry of Labor is expected to issue regulations and an announcement to formalize and implement this Social Security Office policy on COVID-19 assistance measures:
1. Unemployment benefits due to Force Majeure
Social Security Office to apply section 79/1 of the Social Security Act pays compensation to employees who have had to cease working and are not receiving wages from the employer, but whose employment has not been terminated, as a result of one or more the following events related to the COVID-19 pandemic:
- The employer orders the cessation of specific employees work due to the force majeure obstructing normal business operations.
- The employee has to cease working due to the force majeure, with the approval of the employer.
- The government orders the employer to close the business as a preventive measure for the pandemic of disease.
Employees receive compensation during the work cessation of 62% of their daily wages contributions to the Social Security Office for a maximum of 90 days.
2. Benefits in the event of unemployment amidst the economic crisis
Regulation to declare an economic crisis from 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2022 would allow the Social Security Office to pay compensation to employees whose employment contract ends for the following reasons:
• Termination by the employer entitles the employee to receive compensation of 70% of their daily wages contributions to the Social Security Office limited to 200 days for each termination.
• Resignation or expiration of definite employment entitles the employee to receive 45% of their daily wages contributions to the Social Security Office limited to 90 days for each period of unemployment.
Payments to informal workers who are not covered by a social security welfare scheme
Freelancers, self-employed persons who register on the website raomaithingkun.com "Nobody will be left behind" and qualify will receive 5,000 Baht monthly from April to September 2020. Ministry of Finance expects 9 million eligible persons with informal jobs. Payments are via direct transfers or through electronic wallets.
