You are using an outdated browser and your browsing experience will not be optimal. Please update to the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Install Microsoft Edge

March 27, 2020

Thailand to Temporarily Reduce Social Security Contributions for Both Employers and Employees

Due to the economic impact of COVID-19, the Board of the Social Security Office has agreed to reduce the rate for both employee and employer contributions to the Social Security Fund.

On March 23, 2020, it was announced that there would be a reduction from a 5% contribution to a 4% contribution, for both employees and employers, for a period of six months, commencing in March and ending in August.

However, at a cabinet meeting on March 24, 2020, the contribution rate was then revised further, reducing employee contributions to 1%, for a period of three months, commencing in March and ending in May. Employer contributions remain at 4%, but only from March to May. The earlier announcement is no longer in effect.

Following these reductions, employee contributions to social security are now 1% of salary, with a maximum contribution of THB 150 per month, for March, April, and May. Employer contributions are set at 4% of salary, with a maximum contribution of THB 600 per month, for March, April, and May. 

As the situation is changing rapidly, further changes are certainly possible, and we will keep you updated as the situation develops.

RELATED INSIGHTS​ 

March 31, 2020
On March 31, 2020, the Prime Minister of Vietnam issued Directive No. 16/CT-TTg, which sets out Vietnam’s strongest measures yet for preventing and controlling the COVID-19 virus.Notably, Directive 16 mandates strict social distancing throughout the country for 15 days, from April 1 through April 15. In the wording of the directive, “families should be distanced from families, villages should be distanced from villages … provinces should be distanced from provinces.”Practical Implications
March 31, 2020
Delay in Social Security ContributionsOn March 20, 2020, Myanmar’s Social Security Board announced that it will allow employers to make social security payments quarterly, instead of monthly, due to the hardship businesses are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will provide a degree of relief for employers, although the measures do not yet go as far as reducing the required social security contributions.Workplace Requirements
March 31, 2020
Due to the complicated and unpredictable developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vietnamese government has taken various measures, which have grown more stringent over time, to combat the spread of the disease. Due in part to these timely measures, as of Monday, March 30, Vietnam had reported just over 200 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and no fatalities—encouraging numbers for a country of its size.
March 30, 2020
As the COVID-19 situation escalates, governments worldwide are imposing travel restrictions, mandatory quarantine procedures, and curfews and lockdowns in an attempt to slow the transmission of the virus. The Thai government has announced many measures to deal with the COVID-19 outbreaks, including ordering the postponement of the Songkran holidays and the temporary shutdown of portions of the public and private sectors.