21 July 2021 • 21 minute read
Further assistance from the Social Security Office as Thailand heads to further lockdown
Previously, the Social Security Office (SSO) announced the reduction of social security contributions for a period of three (3) months from 1 June 2021 – 31 August 2021 due to the third wave of COVID-19 cases in Thailand.
On 13 July 2021, the Cabinet approved additional relief measures to assist workers and entrepreneurs who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 10 red-zone provinces, including Bangkok. On 20 July 2021, following the tightening of lockdown restrictions in Thailand, the Cabinet approved the expansion of relief measures from 10 red-zone provinces to 13 red-zone provinces (now including Chachoengsao, Chonburi and Ayutthaya).
The financial aid is limited to only certain groups of workers/ employees and entrepreneurs/ employers based on the worker's description under the Social Security Act of Thailand (as set out in Table A below) (Affected Groups) and restricted to only nine (9) industries (as set out in Table B below) (Affected Industries).
TABLE A: Affected groups that are eligible for financial assistance
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| Affected Group | Relief Measures |
| 1. | Section 33 employees *Section 33 employees refer employees who are over 15 but under 60 years of age; unless employees over 60 years have been continuously employed by the employer | SSO will pay compensation of up to 50% of the employee's salary but capped at THB7,500. Thai national employees will receive an additional THB2,500, totalling up to not more than THB10,000 each. |
| 2. | Section 33 employers | SSO will pay THB3,000 per employee, capped at 200 employees. |
| 3. | Sections 39 employees with Thai nationality *Section 39 employees refer to former-employees of an employer | SSO will pay THB5,000 per employee for a period of 1 month. |
| 4. | Section 40 employees with Thai nationality *Section 40 employees refer to self-employed employees | SSO will pay THB5,000 per employee for a period of 1 month, provided that the employee is registered with the SSO by end of July 2021. |
| 5. | Entrepreneurs/employers whose employees are not registered with the SSO | SSO will provide the following assistance, provided that the employees are registered with the SSO by the end of July 2021:
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| 6. | Entrepreneurs who are not in the Social Security System and have no employees | SSO will pay THB5,000 for a period of 1 month, provided that the entrepreneurs/employer are registered with the SSO by the end of July 2021. |
| 7. | Entrepreneurs in the "Toong Ngern" system in 5 categories under the "Kon La Krueng" project and the "Rao Chana" project who have employees | SSO will provide the following assistance, provided that the employees are registered with the SSO by the end of July 2021:
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| 8. | Entrepreneurs who participated in the "Toong Ngern" system in 5 categories under the "Kon La Krueng" project and the "Rao Chana" project without having any employees | SSO will pay THB5,000 per person provided that the employees are registered with the SSO by the end of July 2021. |
TABLE B: Affected industries that are qualified for the financial assistance
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| Affected Industry | Example of Occupation |
| 1. | Accommodation and food service | Hotel, resort, guest house, rural culture accommodation, food service in restaurants, food service on stalls and markets, catering services, service of alcoholic beverages |
| 2. | Transportation and storage of goods | Transportation of passengers by bus between Bangkok and other provinces and between provinces, transportation of passengers by car, taxi, rickshaw, motorcycle, road transport of chilled or frozen goods, road transport of goods packed in containers |
| 3. | Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles | Shopping mall, supercentre and general merchandise retail |
| 4. | Administrative activities and support services | Tour business, security service, cleaning service, businesses related to the organisation of meeting and exhibition |
| 5. | Professional activities science and academic activities | Advertising company, interior design, audit, tax consulting |
| 6. | Information and communication | Film and video production, TV production and film screening |
| 7. | Construction | Residential building construction, road construction of bridge and tunnel, installation of water supply and drainage systems |
| 8. | Other service activities as prescribed by the Social Security Office | Spa, hair salons/barbers, beauty care, manicure and pedicure, funeral and its related activities |
| 9. | Arts, entertainment and recreation
| Fitness facility, sports club activities, amusement, entertainment and recreation activities |