Does Thailand have social security?

[abidismaili]

I know Thailand is not a rich Western nation and it can not afford the social security programs which are quite common in Western Europe.

 

But still. I can't believe there isn't any form of protection at all. 

 

Some scenarios:

 

1) Say you are 20 and you get an accident which makes it impossible for you to work again. You get then a monthly income from the government? Or your family must support you?

 

2) I assume that the elderly are supported? Or is it assumed children pay for their parents after their parents have retired? But what for elderly gays, who don't have kids? They have to work till they die?

 

3) What if you can't find a job? It is low season, bars don't hire, shops don't hire, not many farang in the gay apps and you are only average looking, what then? Live in the street? Beg? 

[Guest cdnmatt]

Nope, there's nothing at all.

 

And considering the new constitution passed, universal healthcare and free high school may be headed out the window too.

[abidismaili]

Nope, there's nothing at all.

 

 

So if you are 75 and gay and have no kids you have to work, till you die? No children to take care of you.

 

If you get an injury so you can't work for months till it is healed, you will need to live on the street and beg or hope your family (if you have them) will help you? No support whatsoever from your government? 

 

Not good. Not good at all.

[Guest cdnmatt]

There are the countless number of temples you see around.

 

That's basically Thailand's version of social security.  If you're unable to take care of yourself, you can always go to the temple for shelter and food.  At the same time society at large keeps the temples funded.

[Gaybutton]

Nope, there's nothing at all.

 

Unless something has changed, that's not quite true.

 

http://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-thailand-social-security

 

http://www.sso.go.th/wpr/eng/index.html

[abidismaili]

Unless something has changed, that's not quite true.

 

http://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-thailand-social-security

 

http://www.sso.go.th/wpr/eng/index.html

 

Very interesting. I wonder how many moneyboys make these monthly contributions though. But this looks good. You can insure yourself. Disability and pension is covered.

 

But it does look to me this applies more to regular work contracts: employer - employee. Looks more designed for the middle class. Most boys who work in shops and bars do not have a formal contract with their employer, nothing is signed.

 

I am sure the boys don't pay income taxes. The government is by the way unaware they have a job because as said nothing is written doen, it is all informal; so impossible for the government to let them pay income tax. I am afraid they also don't pay these monthly contributions. I also strongly doubt the bar owners pay on behalf of the boys their employer contributions which the law is referring too. I think it is unregulated, unlike middle class jobs. 

[pong]

Your Q is too absolute, that there is not an overabundant system like in the (in the minds of many a USAer spoilt) West-Eur countries, but there, as khun lung GB also points out, IS some forms/elements of it. Most are only for wokrers, with registration (which yes, leaves many out), and there is also a 500 bt monthly allowance for OAPs, there is the former 30 bt, now free, free health scheme and there are quite severe payments to be made when people loose the job due to the company. GETting all that is another matter. In local comparison, its far, far better as all surrounding countries, bar MY-which also explains why TH is such a big draw to undocumented workers from there. Esp. the poor Burmese have a knack-and many a NGO behind them-to get all the entitlements. I have also talked to many people who deliberately choose to work for the Thai govmt to get even more benefits, mostly medical.

[Gaybutton]

Very interesting. I wonder how many moneyboys make these monthly contributions though. But this looks good. You can insure yourself. Disability and pension is covered.

 

Yes.  Also, I did not express an opinion as to whether I think Thailand's Social Security system is a particularly good one or not.  The intent of my post was simply to point out what Thailand does have.

[Brummbaer]

If I read the page from SSO right, then everybody not working for a company with 10 or more employees falls through the cracks? How many of the small businesses i.e. in tourism or retail do actually have 10 employees?

[vinapu]

If I read the page from SSO right, then everybody not working for a company with 10 or more employees falls through the cracks? How many of the small businesses i.e. in tourism or retail do actually have 10 employees?

but this somewhat reflect situation in Western countries where if you work for such a small company often you don't have the same protection  your friends working for bigger one have. Only stronger legal system is your rescue.

 

Speaking from first hand experience hence my advice for young people '' if you ever work for small company. make sure  you own it"

[Alexx]

Some rather random pieces of the framework that still leaves a lot to individuals and their families:

 

The elderly can claim a pension funded by the government regardless of contributions when they worked, but it's a meager monthly allowance. Still, for someone living in a village with their family, it can make a difference, e.g. to be able to buy supplements and medicine.

 

Referred to as "living allowance" in the following article: http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/1039713

 

The public sector and the private sector have separate pension schemes on top of that, and for those that who are employed "informally" (actually a huge chunk of those employed in the private sector), the government has introduced a new scheme that allows them to make contributions on their own. I doubt many have the spare cash and foresight to do so, however, but I don't have any numbers to support that claim - yet.

 

In the case of an accident, coverage depends on many factors. In the best case, the accident was caused by someone who is both willing and able to pay.

 

Health care for those who cannot afford it has been vastly improved. But depending on the particular circumstances, it can still range from adequate to substandard.

 

All things considered, I think Thailand is making a real effort to improve social security. In comparison to many Western countries that have a long tradition in that field, obviously there's still a big difference.

[Up2u]

I seriously doubt sex workers pay into the social security system nor do employers make matching contributions. My condominium here pays into the employees social security system (office staff, security guards, maintenance staff, etc.).

[ChristianPFC]

1) Say you are 20 and you get an accident which makes it impossible for you to work again. You get then a monthly income from the government? Or your family must support you?

 

2) I assume that the elderly are supported? Or is it assumed children pay for their parents after their parents have retired? But what for elderly gays, who don't have kids? They have to work till they die?

 

3) What if you can't find a job? It is low season, bars don't hire, shops don't hire, not many farang in the gay apps and you are only average looking, what then? Live in the street? Beg? 

 

1) What do you think where the disabled beggars come from?

 

2) What do you think where the old age beggars come from?

 

3) Think out of the gay bubble. As far as I know, unless you are stupid AND lazy, everyone can get a job in Thailand. And even if you are stupid AND lazy, you can move from one job to the next (until you are fired once your employer finds out you are stupid AND lazy).

 

There is a network of family and friends to support those who are unable to work or have no job. I recently got numbers from a friend, 1/3 of his income goes to support his mother, similar to what we pay in social insurances in the west.

[kokopelli]

There is a 500 Baht  Universal Pension Scheme in Thailand for the elderly which provides 500 Baht/month.

Or, at least, there was.

[abidismaili]

There is a 500 Baht  Universal Pension Scheme in Thailand for the elderly which provides 500 Baht/month.

Or, at least, there was.

How can they live from that? Assuming your house is paid for and you only need to pay for food then 500 is hardly enough for one week eating. How does a gay man of 70 eat the other three weeks of the month? No kids who help him. The local temple?

Looks to me as a gay in Thailand you need to work till you die. I wonder if most gay boys realize that.

[Guest Patexpat]

Yes there is a social scheme that employers and employees both subscribe to. This subscription covers a health scheme (very basic, most of my guys opt for their own health insurance in addition to this compulsory one) and surprisingly also provides sickness pay of up to B200/day AFTER the 30 days of paid-by-employer sick leave has been exceeded. retirement pensions, as already mentioned, are abysmal unless you are a civil servant. 

[Guest cdnmatt]

You need to spend time in typical (poorer / mid-class?) Thai communities, and get a sense of how they operate.  Don't worry, nobody is going hungry in this country.

 

Give you an example.  Close to me is this old homeless guy, and he's been around for years.  He hangs out on the streets in the area, and the night market.  He has this old, rusty lever-based wheel chair type contraption, no legs, no teeth, is quite fat, always complains about pain in his stomach, is completely mentally insane (not in a bad way, and he's always happy -- just insane), etc.

 

Nonetheless, he is well taken care of, as that's just how society here works.  People ask to make sure he's alright, some people give him a little money, small restaurant / stall owners will cook him a meal here and there, if there was an emergency without question people would jump up to help, etc.  I always ask how he's doing, and give a little money when I see him.

 

He might be an old crazy man with no legs or family, but his basic necessities are looked after by the community as a whole, as that's just how things work in this country.

[williewillie]

Most Thais we encounter come from large families with many brothers and sisters, and many aunts and uncles.

The extended family helps out.

Times are changing and these large family networks are shrinking as people have fewer children in general.

Far from ideal but anything is better than nothing.

[vinapu]

How can they live from that? Assuming your house is paid for and you only need to pay for food then 500 is hardly enough for one week eating. 

i imagine that in rural areas with support of extended family 500 goes quite a way and senior recipient of it  is not a burden in the house but very welcomed. 

 

If piece of meat on the stick at street stall  costs 10 baht in central BKK I can immagine that in Udon Nowhere it will be half of that perhaps

[Alexx]

Actually many people living in rural areas don't spend any cash on food. It's shared, bartered, supplied by family members, any combination of that. 500 baht isn't that bad as an extra cash allowance for medicine, some special treats or helping with the PEA bill.