Call for accountability, transparency at Social Security Fund
Play
The Social Security Fund (SSF) is now worth more than Bt1.1 trillion and has about 11 million people under its care, but there is no professional fund manager in charge.
Plus, the SSF management is vulnerable to political interference given that the Social Security Board has the Labour Ministry’s permanent secretary as its chairman and several bureaucrats as members.
So, it’s no surprise that labour activists have been trying to overhaul the SSF management and related social-security system via a new law.
In their view, the current board set-up makes the SSO board prone to following the government’s policies than working in the best interests of employees/workers.
At present, the Social Security Office (SSO), which is under Labour Ministry, manages the social security scheme.
“In fact, the SSO should be an independent agency under the supervision of the Office of the Prime Minister,” Thai Labour Solidarity Committee vice president Wilaiwan sae Tia pointed out.
The Social Security Network for Working People (SSNWP) has also issued a similar call.
It recently sought a meeting with the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) vice president Surachai Liengboonlertchai, asking for a review of the Social Security Bill that sailed through the first reading of the House of Representatives last year.
According to non-governmental organisations, that particular bill has failed to ensure an independent management of the SSF, participation of the insured, adequate transparency and accountability of the SSF management.
Workers/employees who have made contributions to the SSF are considered insured under the social security system, which promises to offer them different benefits, including medical-care, unemployment and old-age benefits.
Labour activists hope the current government and the NLA will support better versions of the Social Security Bill. In fact, when the now-dissolved House considered the bill last year, many versions were put on the table – including one presented by Wilaiwan. This one, however, failed to sail through.
Progress made by a vetting committee has also indicated that the Social Security Bill was not going to bring about any real change in the Social Security Board. The bill proposes that the board be chaired by the labour minister and a bureaucrat as its secretary-general.
The Wilaiwan-supported version, meanwhile, tried to install capable and qualified people to these posts. It also recommended the expansion of the social security scheme to cover more workers, including housemaids and farmers. If this version is implemented, the social security scheme will cover some 40 million people.
Labour activities have pointed out that the current Social Security Bill also fails to mention anything about the investment panel for the SSF, as well as accounting practice or disclosure.
Wilaiwan says she will pressure the Labour Ministry to withdraw the bill.
Labour activists have warned that without proper mechanisms for accountability and transparency, the SSF will remain vulnerable to interference. They have heard time and again how the SSF has invested in bonds or shares that do not deliver maximum benefits.
The SSF is very important to the lives of Thais and foreigners working in Thailand. They contribute a portion of their income to the SSF in the hope that they – as the insured – will get good welfare.
Owing to the many problems at SSF, a large number of insured people feel that they are treated like second-class citizens when exercising their medical benefits.
Many of the insured are also worried that the SSF may go bankrupt. They fear they will lose their old-age benefits simply because the SSF management is not efficient enough.
Their fear is not totally unwarranted, according to many people who have information on the SSF.
Hence, I join the call for a more efficient, more transparent and more accountable management of the SSF. These goals must be achieved to save millions of people from plunging into an uncertain future.
All parties involved should work towards these goals. And a means to do so would be through the enactment of a proper law.
