The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour chaired the meeting of the Social Security Structural Reform Task Force, approving the approach to move forward with study and research, highlighting transparency and stakeholder participation.
On 2 Apr, a reporter reported that recently Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharak, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, chaired the 4/2026 meeting of advisors and the working group studying the reform structure of the Social Security Office (SSO). Ms. Kanchana Phunkaew, Secretary-General of the Social Security Office, along with representatives from related government agencies such as the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Council of State, the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC), as well as employer and insured person representatives, attended the meeting to collaboratively study, analyze, and determine the reform direction for the Social Security Office structure to improve efficiency and align with current public administration contexts.
The meeting acknowledged the project timeline for hiring consultants to study the reform of the Social Security Office structure, which complies with the Public Procurement and Supplies Administration Act B.E. 2560 (2017) and related regulations, as well as the Social Security Office's budget expenditure guidelines. The group also reviewed and provided feedback on the draft report covering structural data studies such as classification of government agencies, review of approaches to transitioning outside the civil service system, management models of social security agencies abroad, draft legislation, and related recommendations.
Additionally, the meeting approved the report's principles and assigned the Social Security Office to proceed with next steps, including reporting to the Minister of Labour, submitting to the Social Security Committee for consideration of the 2026 annual budget allocation for the consultant hiring project, and publishing information on the Social Security Office website to promote transparency and public access to information.
However, this meeting marked the final session within the 60-day timeline of the operational plan (6 Feb – 6 Apr 2026). The next phase involves executing the consultant hiring project for the study, which requires budget approval from the Social Security Committee and strict adherence to procurement laws. Employer and insured person representatives will be involved in all stages to enhance transparency and good governance in a concrete manner moving forward.