Insured Voter Complains Girlfriend Barred Due to Late Employer Payments
An insured voter complained that his girlfriend lost her right to vote in Thailand's social security board election because her employer delayed contribution payments. He also criticized the voting system as overly complex, saying voters must memorize candidate numbers from home. He urged the newly elected board to improve transparency and simplify the process.
Manit, a Section 33 insured voter, explained that his girlfriend lost her eligibility because she was between jobs and had changed employers frequently. Officials said the loss of rights stemmed from gaps in employer contribution payments, and noted that such cases occur often. By law, employers must register contributions from an employee’s first day of work, after which they may face penalties. Manit acknowledged the rules but argued that the election is a direct vote by insured persons, who personally pay their contributions, and therefore should be able to choose their own representatives to oversee benefits. Regarding the ballot, he said the system is overly complicated, forcing voters to memorize candidate numbers at home. He suggested grouping candidates under a single number so voters would not have to struggle with memorization. Manit also urged the incoming social security board to review and amend regulations, set up a channel for future complaints on this issue, and manage contributions with transparency and openness so that all insured persons can monitor the board’s work.
