Virulya Wongchan, candidate number 5 for the employer-side Social Security Committee and representative of the Social Security Development Team (SSD), has proposed measures to enhance transparency in social security fund management through Mark-to-Market investment disclosure—reporting investment values at current market prices—alongside nine reform initiatives designed to improve fund efficiency, reduce employer burden, and strengthen confidence among workers and employers.

Drawing from over 14 years of business experience starting from zero, Virulya observes that Thai entrepreneurs, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), face rising costs in wages, financing, and social security contributions. "For employers, month-end is an expense, not income," Virulya stated. "We want to see social security as a mechanism that supports businesses while effectively protecting workers, because when businesses survive, employees gain security too."

Since employers continuously contribute to the social security fund, they should have a voice in shaping fund direction and access to adequate performance data, Virulya argues, promoting the concept that "employers should have rights, not just obligations."

The nine proposed reforms include: (1) reducing contribution rates to ease burden during economic slowdown; (2) promoting a 300,000-million-baht low-interest loan program for business liquidity; (3) increasing employer benefits aligned with contributions; (4) establishing nationwide employer assistance centers; (5) studying reduced rates for SMEs; (6) studying direct employer access to fund capital; (7) studying solutions for outstanding contributions and fairness for closed businesses; (8) studying contribution rates adjusted by business size; and (9) enhancing fund transparency through investor-friendly quarterly reports on returns, risk, investment allocation, fees, and performance.

On governance, Virulya proposes that the social security fund disclose Mark-to-Market valuations alongside book values, with quarterly reporting of returns, risk, investment composition, fees, and performance results to enable workers, employers, and the public to monitor fund management continuously. "The social security fund is a large fund built from employer, employee, and state contributions. Disclosing asset valuations at current market value increases transparency, builds confidence, and elevates governance to international standards," Virulya said.

The employer-side Social Security Committee election will be held on 27 September 2025, with the SSD fielding all seven candidates.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul completed his official visit to China on July 20, 2025, with a highlight being discussions with senior Chinese leaders at the Great Hall of the People and the witnessing of 15 cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding to elevate Thai-Chinese collaboration across multiple sectors.

During the morning, the Prime Minister and his delegation visited Tiananmen Square to lay wreaths at the Monument to the People's Heroes, then proceeded to the Great Hall of the People for discussions with Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress. Chinese Premier Li Qiang gave an official reception to the Thai Prime Minister at the North Hall, where an honor guard was inspected before full bilateral talks aimed at strengthening strategic cooperation between the two nations.

Following the discussions, both leaders witnessed the signing of 15 cooperation documents in the Hebei Hall, covering security, economy, trade, technology, science, education, health, agriculture, media, and industrial supply chain linkages. Key agreements included financial information exchange cooperation to combat money laundering and transnational crime, public health cooperation, aquaculture quarantine protocols for Thai exports to China, rural water management, hydropower, irrigation, nuclear fusion collaboration, Beidou navigation satellite applications, higher education cooperation, joint space exploration laboratories, industrial and supply chain cooperation, intellectual property enforcement, and artificial intelligence education initiatives.

Media cooperation agreements were signed between Thailand's Public Relations Department and China's Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily, and Chinese national media groups to promote news and information exchange. In the afternoon, the Prime Minister visited Alibaba Group's Beijing headquarters for a digital innovation briefing, paid respects at the Yonghe Temple (Lama Temple), then departed Beijing airport at 4:00 PM, arriving at Bangkok's Air Force 2 airfield at approximately 7:40 PM.

A well-known shadow puppet theater owner died in a tragic collision when his pickup truck slammed into the back of a 10-wheeled truck stopped at a red light on the evening of July 19 in Ban Khai District, Rayong Province. Police from Ban Khai Station responded to the scene at 22:30 to find a white pickup severely crushed and wedged beneath the cargo truck, which was loaded with chicken crates. Officers discovered the body of a man, approximately 60 years old and identified as the owner of a prominent local shadow puppet troupe. Rescue personnel used specialized cutting tools to extract the victim from the wreckage.

Investigators determined that before the accident, the victim had been conducting a shadow puppet performance at a local temple and was driving his pickup truck carrying equipment back to his residence, with his son following on a motorcycle. At the Bang Buthorn traffic light intersection on Highway 3574, the 10-wheeled truck was stopped at the red signal preparing to enter Rayong city when the victim's pickup collided with it at high speed, causing his immediate death.

Police documented the scene and collected evidence, taking the truck driver in for further questioning at the station to determine the exact cause of the accident and to proceed with legal proceedings. The victim's body was sent to Ban Khai Hospital for autopsy pending collection by relatives for religious rites.

The Land Transport Department has launched assistance for citizens denied state welfare cards in 2025, primarily those rejected for owning more vehicles than program rules allow. Most cases involve vehicles previously owned but not properly re-registered after sale, or vehicles purchased under family members' names without the applicant's knowledge.

The program permits ownership of only motorcycles up to 300cc, three-wheeled vehicles, small four-wheeled taxis, or agricultural vehicles—one per category maximum. The department offers three ways to appeal between July 17-31, 2025: through the government websites welfare.mof.go.th or via the "Thangarath" and "Pao Tang" applications, or through five participating banks (Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, Government Savings Bank, Krung Thai Bank, Government Housing Bank, and Islamic Bank of Thailand).

Citizens can verify their vehicle ownership records free of charge at provincial transport offices nationwide by presenting a national ID or related documents. The Land Transport Department will check the central database and correct any discrepancies at no cost, treating this as a continuation of the state program.

As of July 20, 2025, Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Perjaiwiwattana announced that the government has opened registration for qualified beneficiaries of the 2025 State Welfare Card to claim reduced water utility rates, effective immediately. The subsidy covers up to 100 baht per household monthly. Each household (address) qualifies for one benefit only. If the water bill exceeds 100 baht but does not exceed 315 baht, beneficiaries pay only the amount above the subsidy. Bills exceeding 315 baht must be paid in full by the cardholder.

Existing beneficiaries from the 2565 program who meet 2569 qualifications can register July 20-25 and will see support on their August water bill, reflected in the September statement. New eligible beneficiaries who have completed identity verification can register July 20 through September 25 and will receive support for October water usage, shown on their November bill. Neither group can claim retroactive benefits.

Eligible individuals can self-register through three channels: the Provincial Waterworks Authority website (www.pwa.co.th), the PWA Plus Life app, or the LINE Official Account @PWAThailand. Registration is also available through staff at Provincial Waterworks Authority branches nationwide. During the registration window (July 20 – September 30, 2025), services operate daily from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM, including holidays, to accommodate the public.

At 11:50 p.m. on July 19, volunteer rescue workers from the Samakarn Foundation in Suphan Buri responded to reports of a vehicle accident in which a car flipped and struck a roadside tree, causing significant damage near the Chok Namchai factory in Bang Plama District, Suphan Buri Province. The driver was identified as Ton Bang Kae, a prominent Buddha amulet dealer. Rescue personnel successfully extracted him from the vehicle, and he was found to have sustained only minor injuries. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.