Trinuch accelerates measures to assist employers and insured persons by instructing the Social Security Office to reduce contribution fees under Sections 33 and 39 in nine provinces affected by flooding.
On 18 February 2026, Ms. Trinuch Thianthong, Minister of Labour, revealed that she has urged the Social Security Office to enhance assistance measures for employers and insured persons in nine flood-affected areas in the South. In addition to the approved six-month extension for contribution payments endorsed by the Cabinet on 9 December 2025, she instructed the Social Security Office to swiftly find additional measures. The Office proposed reducing contribution rates under Sections 33 and 39 in the nine affected southern provinces for six months, starting from the December 2025 contribution period through May 2026.
Ms. Trinuch emphasized that the Ministry of Labour places utmost importance on helping communities in disaster zones. She assigned affiliated agencies to expedite assistance measures within their mandates. The Social Security Office proposed a six-month reduction in contribution rates from December 2025 to May 2026 for employers and insured persons under Sections 33 and 39. This proposal was approved by the Social Security Committee on 9 December 2025. The next step is to promptly submit it to the Cabinet for approval to ensure timely implementation and effective relief.
Ms. Kanjana Phoolkaew, Secretary-General of the Social Security Office, stated that the Office is expediting efforts to assist employers and insured persons under Sections 33 and 39 affected by floods, following the Emergency Disaster Assistance announcement by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Ministry of Interior. The nine flood-affected southern provinces are Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Pattani, Phatthalung, Yala, Songkhla, Satun, and Surat Thani. The measures aim to ease the burden on businesses and workers severely impacted by the flooding.
The Cabinet has already approved the extension of contribution payment deadlines and considered additional measures as assigned by the Minister of Labour. The proposed reduction in contribution rates is intended to help businesses maintain employment during the crisis and to lessen the financial burden on insured persons affected by flooding. This will help them remain continuously covered by social security and retain their entitled benefits. The six-month contribution rate reduction for the nine southern provinces affected by floods will apply to payments from December 2025 through May 2026 as follows.
Ms. Kanjana Phoolkaew further stated that the Social Security Committee approved these measures on 9 December 2025 and will expedite submitting them to the Minister of Labour and the Cabinet. The Social Security Office assures that it will promptly publicize the details once the measures are announced and facilitate access for insured persons and employers in the affected areas to ensure they fully receive their benefits and assistance in a timely manner.