Worker bills overlooked in House drama

Labour leaders have slammed the government for focusing too much on the constitutional amendment and reconciliation bills at the expense of worker-backed social security legislation and other bills focusing on bread-and-butter issues.

Arunee Srito, a former Thai Kriang Textile Co labour union leader, said the current parliament session had originally been scheduled to end on April 18, but the Pheu Thai-led government had extended it to push ahead with the charter amendment and unity bills.

Many measures focused on improving the quality of life for Thais, including the workers' version of the social security measure, to which more than 14,000 workers had signed on as sponsors, had been given the short shrift, she said.

"Government politicians promised to push for the long-awaited workers' version of the social security bill.

"But the government put controversial bills [on charter amendment and unity legislation] at the top of parliamentary agenda at the expense of workers' legislation," Ms Arunee told a seminar on social security reform yesterday.

Wilaiwan sae Tia, deputy chairwoman of the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee, said the workers' bill aimed to amend the social security law to create greater transparency at the Social Security Office (SSO).

The workers' legislation would transform the SSO, which manages the Social Security Fund (SSF), into a public organisation under the supervision of the prime minister. The bill would also require SSF members to directly elect the SSO board.

Ms Wilaiwan said the SSF, the largest fund in the country with more than 10 million members _ mostly private sector employees _ should be managed by professionals to ensure maximum profits for its members.