New law offers social security lifeline

Changes will allow 750,000 to reclaim SSF membership, writes Penchan Charoensuthipan

The amended version of The Social Security Fund Act will help more than 750,000 former members of the Social Security Fund regain access to medical welfare.

The new law, approved by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) last week, will help former SSF members, who unknowingly had their names delisted from the fund, have their memberships reinstated.

Under Section 39, former employees can retain their membership by paying contributions — 5% of salary base of not over 15,000 baht, as well the contributions their former bosses paid, according to Suradet Walitthikun, secretary-general of Social Security Office (SSO).

Those whose membership was terminated can start making new contributions “without the need to pay them retrospectively”, Mr Suradet said.

If they fail to contribute for three consecutive months or pay less than nine months in a year, their membership will be revoked.

Section 39 was written to deal with rising complaints from former members.

The Social Security Office, which oversees the SSF, decided to help as the number of former employees experiencing similar situations was increasing. The number of delisted members rose by more than 90,000 from last year.

On Feb 28 this year, the number stood at 758,237.

One major reason was a large number of SSF members became unemployed and were not aware they were still subject to the contribution requirements if they wanted to retain their membership.

By law, employees, employers and the government are required to finance the SSF through their monthly contributions. Usually, this is done automatically, but when workers leave companies, the requirements are often overlooked.

Many former SSF members have complained they were not given any warnings about overdue contributions and the status of their membership.

“I never intended to miss paying contributions,” a former SSF member, who asked for anonymity, told the Bangkok Post.

He usually had money in his bank account deducted for his contribution. However, when the money was used up, bank staff did not inform him nor did SSF officials, he claimed.

After losing his right to social and medical welfare, he inquired about how to regain his membership, but to no avail.

“The officials insisted I can no longer be a member,” he said.

“What I did eventually was to accept that.” Like company employees, SSF members under Section 39 still have rights to social and medical welfare. The new law, however, exempts them from the pension and unemployment funds.

At present, the number of Section 39 insured members stands at 1.3 million, Mr Suradet said.

This apparently shows the high demand for the welfare package under the SSF and confirms the SSO is on the right track to helping them.

However, under the new law, they are still required to ask for membership, he said.

“They can easily do it by just showing their ID card at a social security office near their homes,” Mr Suradet said.

This can be completed the same day for those who have not missed many contributions.

Mr Suradet said his office was looking to ensure SSF members are warned when they fail to make contributions. The warning will be issued as early as the first month they miss a payment, he said.

One Section 39 insured member, who worked for a company for more than 10 years, said a warning system would be welcome since unemployed members can easily forget that they are still required to contribute and that it is up to them to do so.

A warning system would be welcome since unemployed members can easily forget that they are still required to contribute.