Department to care for needs of elderly

The government will set up a department to care specifically for the elderly, now the population is ageing.

Speaking at a seminar on community empowerment yesterday, deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Yuthavong said the department will oversee elderly people’s issues before the country becomes an ageing society within the next 10 years.

The department will come under the supervision of the Social Development and Human Security Ministry (MSDHS).

A bill to set up the department has been introduced in the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) for consideration, he said.

The bill comes after the MSDHS proposed separating the Office of Promotion and Protection of Children, Youth, the Elderly and Vulnerable Groups (OPP) into two departments.

One would focus on children and youth, and the other on the elderly.

Mr Yongyuth said the aim of the division was to better serve each group.

The Public Health Ministry says Thailand has about 65 million people. Of the population, 10 million, or 15%, are aged over 60. This number will increase by 500,000 each year.

Thailand is expected to become an ageing society in 2025, defined when 14.4 million people — or over 20% of the population — are elderly.

Meanwhile, the National Savings Fund Act obtained cabinet approval on Tuesday, after long delays prompted by concerns of bureaucratic overlap.

The fund aims to encourage people to save more money for life after retirement. The cabinet will allow informal workers — aged between 15 and 60 — to sign up for the fund.

Previously they complained they lacked coverage, as the government dragged its feet in introducing the bill.

Contributions depend on the age of members. For example, the government will contribute up to 50% of savings for youths and 100% for people over 50.

There are some concerns about Section 40 of the Social Security Act overlapping with the National Savings Fund Act, Mr Yongyuth said. Under Section 40, workers in the informal sector aged 60 or older receive pensions and gratuities.

The cabinet has addressed the overlap problem, by allowing people to choose which fund they prefer. Those already covered by Section 40 will be allowed to transfer to the National Savings Fund.