Workers angered by loss of SSO payments

Thousands of furious workers who have paid into the social security fund - in some cases for up to 16 years - have been told their membership with the fund "does not exist".

About 4,000 staff members at electrical appliance maker Singer Thailand Co are seeking answers about their "lost" contributions.

The issue arose when workers tried to claim the government's 2,000-baht cash gift earlier this year only to be told their names were not among SSF subscribers.

The cash giveaway was meant for low-income earners including SSF members in the private sector.

Many angry staff received a letter from the social security office saying they were not qualified to be SSF subscribers because they were not legally recognised as Singer employees.

The explanation left many staff baffled. They insisted they had paid contributions regularly to the SSF for more than 10 years. They said if they were not members, the SSF should have rejected them long ago.

The SSF said many sales agents working for Singer have other permanent jobs. They could not be regarded as Singer employees and, therefore, were not eligible to claim membership of the SSF, SSO secretary-general Pan Wannapinij said.

Mr Pan said an employee must report to the company, work within specific working hours and earn an exact income.

"So why didn't the SSO tell us this in the beginning?" asked employee Jurairat Detsri, who has been contributing to the SSF for 16 years. "It just let us keep paying the contributions until now."

Mr Pan said the workers could appeal against the SSO's decision and ask for an investigation into the issue.

They could also lodge a complaint with the Labour Court.

Singer Thailand deputy managing director Boonyong Tansakul said his company had explained to the SSO that sales agents are company employees.

He indicated the working hour requirement was too strict and failed to recognise the nature of the business.

Mr Boonyong said the SSF should not deny all of the staff their membership.

Worawan Chanduaywit of the Thailand Development Research Institute said the SSO should be held responsible for not exercising enough care in admitting new members.