Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin spoke about the case where business operators in events and related activities will submit a letter to the Prime Minister and himself to provide government measures to help remedy businesses from the impact of Covid-19. The business had to be closed implicitly as they cannot bear the burden of continued expenses. The Prime Minister had already acknowledged this and ordered the Social Security Office to consider the law, with the issue above, on whether it meets the conditions of the Ministerial Regulation on compensation in the event of unemployment due to force majeure from Covid-19, and whether it can provide unemployment remedies for Covid-19 for 50 percent of wages up to 90 days.
On May 11, 2021, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin spoke about the case where business operators in events and related activities are preparing to submit a letter to Prime Minister and Defense Ministry General Prayuth Chan-ocha and himself in the next week. The letter asks the government to take measures to help and remedy companies in events and related businesses, after being impacted by the spread of Covid-19 that started with the first wave in Thailand in early 2020, until the third and most severe wave of outbreaks since the beginning of April, to the present. Although the government did not order the businesses to close, most had to shut down implicitly because they could not bear the burden of continued expenses, and they still cannot forecast when the situation will normalize. Mr. Suchart said that he had informed the Prime Minister and instructed the Social Security Office to consider the regulations and laws and whether such cases fall into the criteria and conditions. It will consider the compensation payment method in case of unemployment due to force majeure according to the Ministerial Regulations regarding compensation due to force majeure caused by the outbreak of dangerous infectious diseases under the Communicable Disease Act B.E. 2563 (additional). It found that the conditions are as follows: 1) The government has ordered to close the premises temporarily by ordering the businesses to close, prohibit or refrain, from using places such as exhibition venues, exhibition centers, convention centers, meeting rooms, banquet room, banquet locations, including any other places of the same nature. As a result, employers are unable to operate in such places. For example, businesses that organize promotional activities, meetings, seminars, banquets, both on-site and off-site, or other similar activities performed at that location. 2) The period for compensation in case of unemployment due to force majeure shall be considered based on the order to close, prohibit or refrain the businesses from using the place following the Bangkok Communicable Disease Committee or the province or the government’s order competent under the Law on Communicable Diseases, to prevent the spread of dangerous infectious diseases. Compensation shall be at the rate of 50 percent of the wages for a period not exceeding 90 days and 3) To verify the facts from the certificate of unemployment benefits due to force majeure that the employer certifies. In the case where the employer does not operate, either in whole or in part or closes temporarily following the government’s orders/announcements, the following 1) without the employee working and receiving wages during that period.
Mr. Suchart continued that from the consideration of the aforementioned legal issues of the Social Security Office, it appears that the conditions of the Ministerial Regulation regarding compensation in the event of unemployment due to the force majeure from Covid-19 can provide unemployment remedies in the event of Covid-19, of up to 50 percent of the wages for up to 90 days. Insured persons must fill out and submit a compensation claim form, with their contact number and a copy of the savings passbook attached. The documents must be submitted to the employer to collect the form and record employee information, providing an unemployment certificate if the government has ordered a temporary closure or quarantine. Once the employer has finished recording the employee information, they must submit the form and the certificate in the e-Service system and send it to the Social Security Office in the area where the establishment is located. For more information, contact the Social Security Office in Bangkok throughout the 12 locations, all provinces, and branches at your convenience, or via the Social Security 1506 Hotline, which is available 24 hours a day.
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Division of Public Relations
11 May 2021
