Thailand eyes expanded social security net for informal sector workers

The Labour Ministry plans to present a proposal to the cabinet seeking an expansion of social security benefits to informal sector workers who have long operated outside the country's formal employment framework. The initiative would extend coverage under Section 33 of the Social Security Act to three vulnerable groups: agricultural workers, street vendors and domestic workers.

Currently, social security protections in Thailand primarily cover formal sector employees and their employers. The proposed expansion aims to address significant gaps in the social safety net for workers in agriculture, informal commerce and household employment—sectors that collectively employ millions of Thais.

The inclusion of these worker categories would provide access to health insurance, disability benefits and other social protections previously unavailable to many in the informal economy. Agricultural workers, who form a substantial portion of Thailand's rural workforce, would benefit alongside street vendors operating in urban areas and domestic workers employed in private households.

The initiative reflects growing recognition of the need to extend social protections beyond the formal employment sector. Officials have indicated the proposal will address implementation challenges, including registration mechanisms and contribution structures tailored to the income patterns and working conditions of informal workers.