Mr. Phumipat Mueanchan, the Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson, revealed that Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Labour, sent his best wishes to fellow workers in the formal sector and independent workers on the occasion of the Thai New Year or Songkran Day 2025. During this year’s festival, the Ministry of Labour has requested the cooperation of employers to allow their employees to take a break from work and stressed that drivers must not work over 8 hours per day, must not do more than 2 hours overtime and must have a 10-hour break between shifts, for the safety of the driver and all passengers. The Ministry of Labour will provide free vehicle inspections from April 11-17, 2025, at roadside service points under the concept of DSD Good Driving Before Traveling. They will distribute drinking water and safety stickers with the “Fill Your Heart, Safety on Every Route” activity and facilitate insured persons who are in an emergency to seek free treatment at the nearest hospital within 72 hours by using only their national ID card, linked to their social security benefits. The Ministry of Labour will also allow foreign workers from Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar who have valid work permits to travel home during Songkran without having to apply for a re-entry permit; the grace period is from April 1 to May 15, 2025.
The Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson said that even though it was a holiday and most people were traveling back to their hometowns or traveling with their families, the Ministry of Labour would continue to care for the relatives of the deceased, employees, and employers affected by the earthquake on March 28, through the coordination and assistance center for those affected by the incident located at JJ Mall. The Social Security Office also arranged for officers to facilitate entitlements for insured persons affected by the incident at the Police General Hospital’s Forensic Medicine Department to provide services to relatives of the deceased every day. As of the latest data on April 12, 2015, the Social Security Office has paid compensation to the dependents of those who died in the earthquake, with a total of 41 deaths nationwide, totaling 25,115,881 Baht, and 34 deaths at the State Audit Office building, totaling 20,428,044 Baht. The compensation consists of funeral expenses, compensation in the case of death, and old-age benefits. At the same time, the Ministry of Labour has surveyed and collected information on affected businesses and employees to provide complete legal protection, especially in paying wages to employees in cases where employers had to close or temporarily suspend their businesses.
“For work safety, the Ministry of Labour has helped inspect electrical systems, machinery, and cranes for establishments and has prepared a loan from the Occupational Health, Safety, and Environment Fund to help employers and employees without a credit limit, with an interest rate of only 2% per year and a maximum repayment period of 5 years. Employees in establishments with savings cooperatives are also allowed to apply for a loan from the Labour Fund of 20 million Baht, with an interest rate of 2% per year and a repayment period of 5 years. The efforts aim to alleviate the suffering and support all parties in returning to normal life and restoring their businesses as soon as possible,” said Mr. Phumipat.
