The Labour Minister invited media groups to integrate communications in creating awareness for informal workers and independent workers apply as an insurer under Section 40 of the social security system, protected, secured and having a better quality of life.
On November 22, 2018, Labour Minister, H.E. Police General Adul Sangsingkeo presided over the “Social Security Section 40 Recognition Program for the Media”, which took place at meeting room 1-2, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Ratchadapisek Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok. He said that the government has stressed the importance of creating a comprehensive social security system suitable for people of all genders and ages, especially care for independent professionals for a better quality of life, stability and security. The Ministry of Labour has urgent policies that stress the extension in integration of parties and networks to promote protection and development of informal workers by persuading them to voluntarily register in the social insurance system, whereby media professionals are a key target group in advocacy, networking and raising awareness of social security coverage under Section 40 to the people and self-employed professionals.
The Labour Minister said that the Ministry of Labour has formed an action plan for the administration of informal workers for 2017 to 2021, which sets out strategic issues to strengthen social security and extend coverage. In 2017, the Social Security Office amended laws to increase benefits but not insurer contributions to insurers under Section 40, for former insurers in the system. It also offers new options for people to enjoy increased social security benefits and coverage with the goal to increase the number of insured persons under Section 40 by 1 million. Section 40 currently has 2.7 million insurers nationwide, but there are also independent professionals who have yet to sign up for social security coverage. According to the National Bureau of Statistics data, there are 20.8 million informal workers nationwide.
The event will create awareness for the mass media to communicate and be an important voice in public relations about social security among the people and freelance professionals across the country, to recognize the benefits and importance of having social security coverage. It also promotes life assurance to improve the quality of life of people according to the intent of the social security law and the Ministry of Labour’s policy to promote social security for the people. This will provide protection for social security members, to allow independent workers to strengthen the economy towards stability, prosperity and sustainability, which is a step in the process of achieving goals set by the Ministry of Labour which is for “informal workers to receiving social security coverage for a better quality of life.”
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Division of Public Relations/
News by Chaninthorn Phettab
Photos by Sompob Silbut/
Information by Social Security Office/
November 22, 2018/
