The Labour Minister reported the operations in paying unemployment benefits from force majeure. Close to 1 million insured persons have applied for the benefits. Approvals have been granted for 490,000 people already, totaling 2.5 billion Baht in payments. The Ministry of Labour will work with employers to certify the termination or suspension of employees within May 8, 2020, to complete payments for the first batch of employees by May 15, 2020.
Labour Minister M.R. Chatu Mongol Sonakul disclosed to the media about the operations in paying unemployment benefits due to force majeure, in the event that insured employees are not working or the employer has not allowed them to work due to close contact to persons infected with COVID-19. Circumstances also include employers stopping business operations on their own, or according to government orders, impacting insured persons whereby they do not receive wages. Benefits that the insured employees receive are unemployment benefits of 62 percent of the daily wage, for no longer than 90 days.
From observing areas completing payments of unemployment benefits due to force majeure, to alleviate the suffering of insured employees, the Social Security Office has gradually paid more than half of the people eligible for the benefits. As of May 5, 2020, 990,523 people submitted applications, and officials have approved for 492,273 people, with payments totaling 2,563.612 million Baht. The Labour Minister has ordered benefit payments to be completed by May 15, 2020. For companies that have ceased operations temporarily and will not pay insured employees, the Social Security has asked for such a group of companies to accelerate the process of certifying employee leave. It was found that 289,104 insured persons were waiting for employers to certify their rights. Companies within this group will be coordinated by officials from the Ministry of Labour and will receive a notification letter from the Social Security Office to certify employees on leave by May 8, 2020.
For the insured employee who has been denied the unemployment benefits due to force majeure, the Social Security Office has prepared to accept appeals from such cases. An appeal committee will join the consideration of those who have been denied applications for unemployment benefits due to force majeure. However, the Ministry of Labour asks that insured persons who have been denied the said rights, to immediately appealed to the Social Security Office.
Division of Public Relations
6 May 2020
