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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 The earlier announcement is no longer in effect.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.

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May 20, 2021
Due to the resurgence of COVID-19 in Thailand since March 2021, the Cabinet has approved new reductions in employers’ and employees’ mandatory contributions to the Social Security Fund (SSF). Contribution rates will be calculated as a percentage of each employee’s monthly wages, based on a minimum and maximum monthly wage that will be confirmed in the formal regulation published in the Government Gazette. Effective May 18, 2021, the new contribution rates for mandatory SSF contributions approved by the cabinet are as follows: From June 1 to August 31, 2021 From September 1, 2021, onward The approval of the cabinet will now be considered by the Office of the Council of State. Thereafter, the new regulation will be published in the Government Gazette before formally coming into effect. For more information on this issue, or any other aspect of labor law in Thailand, please contact Chusert Supasitthumrong at +66 2056 5793 or [email protected].