The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is accepting public input to evaluate the performance of the Provident Fund Act, B.E. 2530, and related regulations as part of its mandatory five-year review. The consultation aims to update the law to align with current conditions, enhance the fund's role as a savings and investment tool, and ensure employees accumulate sufficient retirement savings. Under the 2019 Law Assessment and Drafting Procedures Act, state agencies must conduct legal effectiveness assessments at least every five years from the date a law takes effect. The SEC previously conducted such an assessment in 2021 and proposed amendments in 2023, but now faces a fresh five-year review deadline in 2025. The agency is seeking input from stakeholders and the general public on challenges and obstacles related to the Provident Fund Act, with the goal of improving the law and strengthening the fund's efficiency as a retirement savings mechanism. Interested parties can submit comments on the SEC website (https://www.sec.or.th/TH/Pages/PB_Detail.aspx?SECID=1194) or the national law portal (https://law.go.th/listeningDetail?survey_id=Nzc5NkRHQV9MQVdfRlJPTlRFTkQ=), or by email to thitimam@sec.or.th or pajaree@sec.or.th by October 2, 2025.

The Government Savings Bank is introducing two savings products: the Special 5-Year Savings Bond, offering monthly lottery drawings with prizes reaching 20 million baht, and Omsavings Deposit, a new savings account paying monthly interest. Bank director Songpon Cheevapoonyarojn emphasized that savings underpin financial security and support the government's goal of encouraging disciplined, continuous saving. The bank developed these products for people with lump sums seeking value-for-money returns while maintaining capital safety. The Special 5-Year Savings Bond is available in both paper and digital forms at 500 baht per unit, with a 5-year term, minimum purchase of 500 baht (paper) or 1,000 baht (digital). At maturity, customers receive 5 baht per unit, equivalent to 0.20% annual interest, plus 120 lottery draws over the bond's life offering monthly prizes. Interest and prize money for individuals are tax-exempt. Sales begin August 2, 2026, at all GSB branches or via the MyMo app. The Omsavings Deposit requires a minimum opening balance of 100,000 baht for those aged 7 and above, with additional deposits of at least 10,000 baht per transaction and no maximum limit. The three-year term earns 1.30% annual interest, equivalent to 1.52% on fixed deposits, paid monthly without tax. Early withdrawal incurs no interest penalty. Applications open August 2 through October 31, 2026, at all GSB branches nationwide.

Interior Minister Phlepeer Suwannachavee presided over the opening of the nationwide electronic land office system on August 3, 2025, at the Bangkok Land Office's Chatuchak branch, upgrading 17 Bangkok land office locations to full electronic systems. The ceremony was attended by Deputy Permanent Secretary Phassakorn Bunlaksam, Deputy Land Department Director Trairat Tephborirak, and Bangkok Metropolitan Electricity Authority Governor Dichavat Chanthri, along with senior government officials.

Suwannachavee stated that the government prioritizes using technology to solve problems and create tangible benefits across all government processes by reducing unnecessary steps, linking data between agencies, and designing services based on citizen needs. He emphasized that Interior Ministry agencies should operate as a one-stop service where citizens do not need to travel far, submit duplicate documents, or contact multiple agencies for the same service.

The Land Department has developed its electronic office system to cover all 77 provinces and 462 offices nationwide. The Bangkok land office and its 17 branches now operate as fully electronic facilities where officials, applicants, parties to contracts, and witnesses can sign electronically. Suwannachavee praised department staff for their development efforts and outlined future goals: improving service speed from 30 minutes to 15 minutes per transaction, achieving full e-document capability, and enabling complete online transactions with legal validity for property buying, selling, transferring, and document signing.

On August 3, Pol. Lt. Gen. Natthasakdi Chaowasuwan, commander of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), announced progress in a local government exam fraud investigation after his office issued summonses to thirteen suspects to hear charges. Five suspects have already appeared to be informed of the allegations, while the remaining eight, including Theerutm Suphavibulyaphon, former director-general of the Department of Local Administration (DLA), have requested postponements. Theerutm is expected to appear this week, while the other seven are expected to appear in early next week as they arrange legal representation. Of the five suspects who have already appeared, one is from Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) and four are civil servants found at a residence on the day of the incident, including Rueangdech Sirikij, director of SWU's Office of Educational and Psychological Testing. Rueangdech, who previously testified as a witness, maintained his original statement when appearing as a suspect. Evidence now clearly shows officials were involved in the wrongdoing, with charges varying among suspects—some face joint liability charges while others are accused of being accomplices. Once investigators complete gathering evidence and statements, the case will be submitted to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for review to determine whether the CIB or NACC itself will proceed further. The case is expected to be submitted to the NACC by August 12.

A Senate committee headed by Pol. Lt. Col. Sukij Thangtong visited a Better World Green (BWG) industrial waste facility in Saraburi province on August 3, 2025, to verify the company's waste management systems and address public concerns. Committee members, including deputy chair Nit Ariyawongsakul, toured the landfill site in Huay Haeng subdistrict, Kaeng Koi district, and recommended that BWG increase proactive communication with the public and community to improve understanding of the waste disposal business.

BWG representatives confirmed that the company uses an engineered landfill system with multiple safety features, including compacted soil barriers, base liners, leachate collection systems, and wastewater treatment facilities—not a simple dig-and-bury method as some have mistakenly believed. The system is designed to prevent any treated water from leaving the facility. The company also maintains monitoring wells around the site to continuously test groundwater and surface water quality for contamination.

Waste is separated into hazardous and non-hazardous categories, with hazardous waste undergoing treatment to reduce its dangerous properties before entering the landfill. BWG has filed an appeal against a recent Department of Industrial Works order, arguing that the detection of substances in the internal leachate collection and treatment system does not constitute proof of pollution discharge into public waterways without clear evidence of a direct link.

The Huay Haeng area and Klong Takhe are part of a larger watershed serving multiple activities including residential communities, agriculture, livestock, and industrial operations. The company contends that any pollution source investigation should examine the entire watershed system.

Petch Shinbutri, secretary-general of the National Savings Fund (NSF), announced sweeping reforms one month after taking office. The NSF will accelerate membership expansion, strengthen partnerships with government agencies, develop new savings products, and push forward with a savings lottery project to support Thailand's aging society sustainably.

The NSF's core goal extends beyond membership growth—it aims to ensure financial security for retirees and reduce elderly poverty. The fund currently has approximately 2 million members but targets recruiting 140,000 new members in 2569 and eventually bringing 5 million more eligible Thais into the savings system. The NSF is shifting to "Win-Win" cooperation models with various agencies to expand membership systematically.

The NSF plans to partner with the Interior Ministry to encourage local leaders and villagers to join the system, collaborate with universities to reach youth aged 15 and older, and expand outreach to 400,000-500,000 Thai workers abroad. For the savings lottery project, all government bodies have agreed in principle; the NSF aims to complete regulations by 2569 and launch ticket sales in Q1 2570 at 50 baht per ticket with prizes up to 1 million baht.

Additional reforms under study include allowing partial withdrawals before age 60 and using savings history as collateral for loans with state financial institutions, expanding opportunities for youth and informal workers to access formal credit.