The government has lifted legal restrictions by amending a new ministry regulation for contractors, adding the condition that "causing harm to life, body, or property of the public" will be considered as "abandoning work" and subject to strict penalties.
On 2 August 2026, Ms. Ploytale Laksamee Sangchan, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the Government Gazette website published the Ministry Regulation on Acts Constituting Work Abandonment B.E. 2569, printed in Government Gazette Volume 143, Part 44 Kor, dated 27 July 2026. The regulation defines that the performance or omission of construction contractors causing severe damage that endangers life, body, or property is considered work abandonment. It was signed by Mr. Akniti Nititanprapas, Minister of Finance, on 23 July 2026.
Ms. Ploytale explained that the note at the end of the announcement stated the reason: Section 109 (6) of the Public Procurement and Supplies Administration Act B.E. 2560 (2017) specifies that other acts defined by ministry regulations are considered work abandonment. Therefore, this regulation is necessary to clearly define that contractors' acts or omissions causing serious damage endangering the life, body, or property of the public constitute work abandonment.
"This new ministry regulation adds the condition that 'causing harm to the life, body, or property of the public' is considered work abandonment. It will enable the government to immediately cancel contracts and blacklist contractors when serious construction accidents occur. This will be used alongside the 'contractor record system' that deducts points and suspends new bidding rights, giving the government a decisive legal tool to punish private parties and truly protect public safety," Ms. Ploytale emphasized.