The Ministry of Labour has promised a host of improved benefits for Social Security Fund (SSF) members starting next year, including a higher allowance during maternity leave.
Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said he had issued guidelines for managing the SSF for next year. Changes in the pipeline involve a legal amendment under the Social Security Act to extend the period for subscribers to receive social security benefits.
Also in line for improvement is the expanded period of social security contributions. Currently, subscribers contribute until they are 60, and the cap will be lifted to 65 years old so SSF members can enjoy bigger benefits.
Mr Phiphat said more benefits will be offered to private company employees covered by Section 33 of the Social Security Act and those under Section 39 of the act who stopped contributing to the SSF but are still eligible to receive benefits.
The augmented benefit is insurance paid out in the event of accident, sickness, disability, or death.
Other revamped benefits include a higher welfare allowance for SSF members during maternity leave. Currently, the allowance is equivalent to 50% of an SSF member's daily wage and is paid for 90 executive days after giving birth. The rate will be increased to 98 days.
The SSF subscribers suffering from disability will receive a monthly payment of 70% of their income loss, up from 50%.
Mr Phiphat also revealed that freelancers insured under Section 40 of the Social Security Act are entitled to 3,000 baht a month of life-long support for those who become disabled, 300 baht support for each of their children aged seven or below (maximum two children) and compensation for loss of income due to their illness or injury.
Apart from the enhanced benefits, Mr Phiphat also disclosed a plan was being worked out to prevent the SSF from becoming bankrupt in 30 years, as feared by some experts.
He emphasised the need to maintain the number of fund members to allow the SSF to continue functioning.
He said the ministry and the Social Security Office will discuss the plan to register more workers, both Thai and foreign, who are farmers, gardeners, and servants in the social security system.
"Thailand has five million legal and illegal migrant workers, but only 1.4 million of them are in the SSF system," he said. "If we could lift that to four million, this will boost the fund."