Thailand to Postpone Employee Welfare Fund Payments for Three Months
Labor Minister Jullaphon Amornviwattana will ask the Cabinet to postpone collection of contributions to the Employee Welfare Fund for three months to help employers cope with the ongoing flood crisis. The proposal follows discussions with relevant agencies and a tripartite committee meeting that endorsed the temporary delay. A decision is expected within two weeks.
Labor Minister Jullaphon Amornviwattana said at Wat Lak Si School that he had consulted with relevant agencies, especially the Department of Labor Protection and Welfare, about the widening flood situation and its impact on private businesses. He stressed that relieving the burden on employers during the flood crisis is necessary. The tripartite committee meeting that morning concluded that the collection of contributions to the Employee Welfare Fund should be postponed by about three months, and the proposal will be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration, with a decision expected within two weeks. He added that the aim is to reduce the burden on private businesses during the floods while ensuring proper management of the fund without overburdening the economy. He noted that similar postponements have occurred roughly every year over the past two decades, but this time the delay is intended to be temporary, not an extension. Initially, the postponement is expected to last about three months as recommended by the tripartite committee. He emphasized that the move does not mean abolishing the fund, but rather temporarily adjusting its collection to protect workers and ease employers' burdens during the flood situation. The Ministry of Labor will provide further details once the process is clear.
