Thai Cabinet approves Social Security expansion for 3 employee groups

Prachachat•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

The Cabinet approved a draft royal decree to expand Social Security Section 33 coverage to three previously exempt employee groups.

•The Cabinet approved the principle of a draft royal decree to include three specific employee groups in Social Security Section 33.
•Eligible groups include employees in cultivation, forestry, and animal husbandry; employees of individuals such as housekeepers and drivers; and employees of street vendors.
•The law's implementation period was adjusted by the Council of State from 60 to 180 days after publication in the Royal Gazette.
•The number of insured persons is expected to increase continuously from 2026, reaching over 1.05 million people by 2030.

Overview

•The Cabinet approved the principle of a draft royal decree proposed by the Ministry of Labour to expand Social Security Section 33 coverage.
•The expansion covers three groups: employees in cultivation, forestry, and animal husbandry; employees of individual employers (e.g., housekeepers, gardeners, drivers); and employees of street vendors.
•Eligible employees will receive benefits for illness, cancer, childbirth, disability, death, old age, and unemployment.
•The coverage applies to Thai nationals and other nationalities with correct identification and work permits, including specially permitted foreign workers.
•The Council of State adjusted the enforcement period to 180 days after publication in the Royal Gazette to allow for preparation by employers and the Social Security Office.
•The government expects the total number of insured persons to exceed 1,050,000 people by 2030.
•The expansion aims to provide social security guarantees to workers who were previously outside the system.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on Prachachat (Thai Version)View in Google Translate

Source: Prachachat (Original)

Key Entities

Organization

Cabinet(ครม.)

The government body that approved the principle of the draft royal decree for Social Security expansion.

Ministry of Labour(กระทรวงแรงงาน)ℹ️

The ministry that proposed the draft royal decree to expand social security coverage.

Council of State(คณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา)ℹ️

The body that adjusted the law's enforcement period from 60 to 180 days.

Social Security Office(สำนักงานประกันสังคม)

The agency tasked with preparing contribution systems and public relations for the new regulation.

Person

Captain Phatdaratsam Tongsaluaykorn(ร้อยเอกหญิง ภัทร์ดารัสมิ์ ทองสลวยกร)

Deputy Government Spokesperson who announced the Cabinet's resolution.

Policy

Social Security Section 33(ประกันสังคม มาตรา 33)

The social security system being expanded to cover previously exempt employee groups.

Law

Draft Royal Decree Prescribing Other Businesses or Employees Not Subject to the Law on Social Security (No. ..) B.E. ...(ร่างพระราชกฤษฎีกา กำหนดกิจการหรือลูกจ้างอื่นที่ไม่อยู่ในบังคับตามกฎหมายว่าด้วยการประกันสังคม (ฉบับที่ ..) พ.ศ. …)

The legislation approved in principle to expand Social Security Section 33 coverage.