Bangkok: The Cabinet has given its approval in principle to a draft ministerial regulation concerning unemployment benefits due to force majeure resulting from conflicts along border areas. This announcement was made by Mr. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, who noted that the regulation aims to address the impact of border fighting, particularly on insured individuals unable to work and businesses unable to operate.
According to Thai News Agency, the Ministry of Labor proposed this draft regulation, which has now been forwarded to the Office of the Council of State for further evaluation. The Ministry has been tasked with considering feedback from the Budget Bureau and the National Economic and Social Development Council in advancing this initiative. The regulation broadens the definition of force majeure to encompass threats from border conflicts, ensuring that social security covers those affected by such unrest. Insured employees who cannot work or whose businesses have temporarily ceased operations due to evacuations in conflict zones, particularly along the Thai-Cambodian border, will be eligible for 50 percent of their daily wages during their unemployment period, for up to 180 days.
The draft regulation also outlines that the Minister of Labor, guided by the Social Security Committee's recommendations, will declare the specific areas and timelines for these benefits. The regulation will be retroactively effective from July 24, 2025. In alignment with Sections 7 and 27 of the Public Fiscal Discipline Act B.E. 2561 (2018), the Ministry of Labor has compiled comprehensive details to accompany the Cabinet's approval request. Approximately 2,435 individuals are expected to benefit from this regulation, with an estimated 23.4 million baht allocated for unemployment benefits due to border conflict. This expenditure is relatively modest compared to the unemployment fund, which boasts investments totaling approximately 188.797 billion baht, indicating that the fund will not experience significant strain.