The acting Social Security board voted 10 to 6 to extend the search for seven advisors. Saththaram insisted the new board should select them. Meanwhile, the Social Security Office is speeding up vote counting and expects to certify results by early November.
On 19 Oct 2026 GMT+7, Pol. Lt. Col. Wannapong Kotcharak, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labor, chaired the final meeting of the acting Social Security board at the Social Security Office before the new board takes office. The meeting voted 10 to 6 to extend the search for seven expert advisors after the 90-day deadline passed without completing the selection.
Saththaram Thambutsadee, acting employee representative board member, opposed the decision, saying the search should be postponed until election results are certified and the new board can participate from the start. Although advisors have no voting rights, they play a key role in setting agendas and working with the board, so rushing during the transition is unwise. Regarding the 38 million baht budget for building a Social Security office in Samut Songkhram Province, the meeting agreed to convert it to rental expenses to reduce long-term costs and allow the new board to reconsider. For the disposal of eight outstanding Social Security fund debts totaling 29 million baht, debate arose because some company directors with old debts opened new companies. This should be clarified and reviewed by the new board rather than handled during the transition.
Malakalan Hopratum, Inspector General and deputy spokesperson of the Social Security Office, said vote verification is underway from 5,233 units nationwide, covering over one million votes. After ranking and certifying results, expected by early November, if no objections arise within seven days of announcement, 21 new board members will be appointed. Regarding candidate qualifications and political campaigning, the office follows the Social Security Act and 2021 regulations with proper verification. For warnings about sharing Social Security information, the office affirmed no intent to intimidate but to verify facts before dissemination.
Meanwhile, today the Progressive Social Security team issued a statement urging the Minister of Labor and the Social Security Office to revoke the Ministry of Labor's (secret) order 1884/2569 dated 8 Sep 2026, which appointed a seven-member advisory committee. They claimed the process may be unlawful and allows former power groups to influence selection. They called for halting the current process, waiting for the newly elected board to assume duties and help design a transparent selection process that includes participation from insured representatives and employers.
