Court Voids Social Security Board Election Delay Order

At 3:00 p.m. on August 11, 2025, the Administrative Court ruled to revoke the announcement suspending elections for employer and insured worker representatives on the Social Security Board, which had been issued on July 27, 2025. The Progressive Social Security Team, led by Satstharam Thammabusdee and 14 members, had sued the election committee, claiming the suspension order was unlawful because it set no clear timeline and constituted illegal action.

The court reasoned that the announcement effectively halted the election process established by the original proclamation issued on May 25, 2025, preventing the election proceedings from continuing. The court found no justification for the delay under Labor Ministry emergency provisions. The Social Security Office (SSO) had budgeted 275 million baht for the elections and could seek additional approval if needed, making the indefinite suspension unnecessary and unlawful. The court also issued an injunction preventing the SSO from issuing similar orders to suspend the elections.

Speaking after the ruling, Satstharam stated the Progressive Social Security Team won the case and that election proceedings must now resume on the original schedule. He noted the SSO is fully prepared, with over 7 million ballots already printed, and budget is not an obstacle. Allowing the Social Security Board to operate under interim management for nearly six months risks long-term damage to the fund, he added. The elections will now take place on September 27, 2025. Satstharam appealed to the public to participate in what he described as a historic opportunity to return control of the country's largest welfare organization to ordinary workers and their families, whose contributions support 1.2 million children, 200,000 pregnant women, 900,000 pensioners, and millions of patients.