“Ekasit” Leads Employer Network in Talks with Labour Minister, Proposes System Trial for the “Employee Welfare Fund” Ahead of 1 October 2026 Implementation

On 2 September 2026 at the Parliament Building, Mr. Ekasit Kunanantakul, President of the Employers’ Confederation of Thailand (ECOT), together with representatives of employers’ organisations, met with Mr. Julapun Amornvivat, Minister of Labour, to discuss the collection of employee savings contributions and employer contributions to the Employee Welfare Fund, which, under the legislation currently in force, is scheduled to commence on 1 October 2026.

Mr. Ekasit stated that employers attach great importance to protecting employees’ fundamental rights and are fully prepared to comply with the law in order to provide greater security for workers. However, before the collection of employee and employer contributions begins, the Government should ensure that all parties have a clear understanding of and confidence in the system. This would enable both employers and employees to have a common understanding of the relevant criteria, necessity and appropriateness of the scheme, while ensuring that it can be implemented effectively nationwide.

The employer sector has also raised concerns regarding the overall readiness of the administrative system, including procedures for deductions from wages and remittance of contributions, the maintenance of individual accounts, the management of employees’ entitlements when changing jobs, coordination with provident funds, the calculation of investment returns, as well as the readiness of information technology systems and personnel.

ECOT therefore considers it important for contingency measures to be put in place in the event of disruptions or technical problems within the administrative system, in order to prevent adverse impacts on business establishments, employers and, in particular, the benefits and entitlements of employees.

“The Employers’ Confederation of Thailand, as a representative of the employer sector, proposes that the Government open the system for trial operation and provide clear evidence of its readiness before actual contribution collection begins. This is to ensure that all parties, particularly employees, receive the fundamental rights and benefits to which they are entitled in a proper, appropriate and fair manner under labour law. At the same time, the system must also provide clarity and fairness for employers. This will help ensure that the collection of employee savings contributions and employer contributions to the Fund, scheduled to begin on 1 October, can build confidence among all stakeholders—employers, employees and the Government—and support the effective functioning of the system as a whole,”
Mr. Ekasit Kunanantakul said.

The Ministry of Labour stated that it had taken note of the proposals raised by the employer sector and had instructed the relevant agencies to consider the issues in further detail, taking into account the protection of employees’ rights and security, alongside prevailing economic conditions and the readiness of business establishments, with the aim of ensuring a balanced and fair implementation for all parties.

The Employee Welfare Fund was established under the Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541 (1998) and is administered under the supervision of the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare. Its objective is to provide financial security for employees in cases of termination of employment or death.