The cabinet is expected to next week endorse a proposal to offer workers in the informal economy under the social security system a 40% discount on the monthly contribution to the Social Security Fund (SSF) for a period of six months.
The proposed Covid-19 relief measure is designed to ease the economic impacts of the pandemic.
About 3.5 million workers in the informal economy are covered under the social security system under Section 40 of the Social Security Act, according to Aruni Sito, the president of the network for informal workers and member of the Social Security Board.
The board on Tuesday approved the proposed contribution discount, which will be forwarded to the cabinet for endorsement next Monday, according to Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin yesterday.
Informal workers are paying monthly contributions to the SSF that range from 70 baht, 100 baht to 300 baht a month, said the Labour Minister.
The cabinet on Monday is also expected to approve another Covid-19 financial relief package, which will be given to private employees covered by Section 33 of the act, he said.
Under this relief package, insured employees will receive cash worth around 4,000 baht in one month's time. Registration for the relief package can be made at www.ม33เรารักกัน.com and will be held between Feb 21 to March 7.
Krungthai Bank will then verify the applicants between March 8 to 14 and the approved applicants must then confirm via the 'Pao Tang' app between March 15-21. They will then get the 1,000 baht weekly from March 22 to April 12 and will be able to spend that money until the end of May. To qualify for this package, they must not have more than a combined amount of 500,000 baht in bank accounts.
Ms Aruni said many informal workers have missed paying their monthly contributions to the social security fund for several months since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
The interruption in payments has raised various concerns, such as the fact that workers could lose certain benefits associated with the fund, such as a funeral subsidy.