The Social Security Office clarified that the 35 million baht suit expenditure represents the organization's symbol. They explained the budget comes from three parties and is not solely from insured workers' funds, and that the process was conducted according to proper regulations.
On 27 Jan 2026 GMT+7, at the Social Security Office building, Deputy Secretary-General Niyada Seni Manomai addressed the controversy regarding the 35 million baht budget for suits for 7,000 Social Security employees, amid public doubts about the source of the funds.
Niyada Seni Manomai explained that the suits are uniforms for Social Security staff, serving as a symbol identifying them as office personnel. The budget used did not come from government allocations for administration or operations; the office only receives civil servant salaries. Therefore, to create a budget, they must propose projects for approval.
She added that although some may see the suits as unnecessary, staff have expressed that the uniforms symbolize and help communicate with insured persons when out in the field, for inquiries about information or benefits. Thus, the uniforms reflect the agency's identity.
When asked about the source of funds for the suits, Niyada stated that under the law on contribution collection, funds come from three parties: insured workers, employers, and the government. The administrative budget is capped at 10% of annual contributions, but in reality, less than 10%—around 2-3%—is actually used.
Regarding concerns that each suit costs 5,000 baht and whether this is reasonable, Niyada clarified that 5,000 baht is not per individual piece but per set. The procurement followed all regulations and was conducted via competitive bidding.