SSO lifts benefits for injured workers

As part of new conditions set by the Social Security Office (SSO) this year, people who sustain work-related injuries will now be entitled to 70 per cent of their monthly salary - up from the 60 per cent they were able to get earlier, SSO secretary-general Pan Wannaphinij said yesterday.

People who sustain work-related disabilities will be able to get 15 years of financial support, while beneficiaries of those who die while at work will be given aid for 12 years instead of eight.

Pan revealed the changes at a seminar yesterday called "What do Beneficiaries get from the SSO's 20th Anniversary?"

Pan said he agreed with plans to run the SSO as an independent agency in the future, instead of a government agency, as called for by more than 9 million SSO members.

He was also repeating an old complaint about the SSO's commitment to pay pension funds for 30 years from 2015. "This is a problem the SSO will face, and will end up being shouldered by future beneficiaries if I stay silent on the issue," he said.

Wilaiwan sae-Tia, a labour leader who was at yesterday's seminar, said running the SSO as an independent agency would ensure transparency and greater efficiency and increased profits.

She also complained about Bt200 million the SSO had ear-marked to publish personal details of SSO board members.