PEOPLE’S MPs led by party leader Nattapong Ruangpanyawut were joined by members of the public in marching to Parliament to submit a draft Social Security bill to House Speaker Sophon Zaram in marking the International Labour Day or May Day today (May 1), Naewna newspaper and Amarin TV said.
During the march from Bang Pho intersection to Parliament building, participants chanted “Reclaim Social Security” and displayed signs demanding social security reform.
Nattapong, who was joined by deputy party leader Ms. Sirikanya Tansakul and several other MPs, said people’s power is needed for this draft legislation to become law with changes needed because contributions from over 20 million workers have led to the fund exceeding the national budget thus it should be managed professionally and transparently.
People’s MP for Chonburi Mr. Sahassawat Kumkong said the management of the Social Security Fund has run into significant problems with the workers not knowing how the money was being used. Importantly, while contribution to the fund comes from three parties, it is managed by civil servants who do not even use the fund themselves.
These civil servants lack the expertise in managing the fund professionally, resulting in low returns and this undermines its sustainability with analysis suggesting it could only last around 25 to 30 years, he said.
It is therefore necessary to reform the fund’s structure and move the Social Security Office from the hands of civil servants to transparent professional management, he added.
When asked about alleged 4 billion baht missing from the Social Security Fund which Labour Minister Julapun Amornvivat said was due to inaccurate entry, Sahassawat said the Progressive Social Security Team is still trying to get factual information from the civil servants at the Social Security Office, but so far they had not seen any documents nor received a clarification but People’s will follow up on this issue.
At 3.30 p.m. the People’s MPs and their supporters reached Parliament where the draft bill was submitted to the House Speaker via Ms. Rachadaporn Eiamanan, acting head of the Political Coordination and Complaints Handling Group, and Pol. Lt. Sanh Piriya, a legal expert.
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This and Front Page – People’s MPs and their network march to Parliament to submit the draft bill. Photos – Naewna
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