Self-Employed Workers Frustrated After Pension Drops Nearly 70% Upon Switching Insurance Schemes
Self-employed workers in Nakhon Ratchasima are suing after switching pension schemes caused their monthly benefits to plunge nearly 70%, with some receiving as little as 1,320 baht. Over 100 volunteer lawyers are preparing a class-action la
On May 8, 2025, at the Nakhon Ratchasima Bar Association office, 61-year-old Ponthip Chanyaviphaa from Hua Thale subdistrict, along with nine other affected self-employed workers under Section 39, met with Prathep Charoenphong Anant, chairman of the Nakhon Ratchasima Bar Association, to seek legal assistance for a class-action lawsuit regarding inadequate old-age pensions.
The group alleges that self-employed workers who switched from Section 33 to Section 39 are receiving significantly lower pensions than they should. The problem stems from how the contribution calculation base is interpreted. Workers who previously contributed under Section 33 with a wage basis of 15,000 baht for decades find their calculation base reduced to just 4,800 baht under Section 39, resulting in pension losses of nearly 70%.
Ponthip revealed that she worked as a factory employee under Section 33 before registering as a self-employed worker under Section 39 to access healthcare benefits. However, she now receives only 1,320 baht monthly in pension—insufficient for living expenses amid economic hardship and inflation.
Khwanjai Ung Gerd, 55, shared that she underwent kidney surgery and sought social security protection as a low-income worker, switching from Section 33 to Section 39. Instead of protection, she received a trap: only 1,397 baht monthly—approximately 46 baht daily. She noted that even a basic meal costs 50 baht, making survival impossible. At her age, she cannot find new employment and must resort to gardening and casual labor, potentially becoming a burden on her children and relatives.
Prathep announced that the bar association is mobilizing over 100 volunteer lawyers to gather evidence and establish a fact-finding committee to seek justice. They are preparing to file the class-action lawsuit. Other affected Section 39 workers can join the case by submitting documentation to the Nakhon Ratchasima Bar Association. Although some Supreme Court verdicts have ordered pension payments according to rights, many cases remain unresolved, with affected individuals believed to exist throughout Thailand.
