04/09/2026
Statement by the Mekong Migration Network
“MMN Welcomes the Extension of Social Security Coverage to Migrant Workers in Informal Sectors”
4 September 2026
The Mekong Migration Network (MMN) welcomes the Thai Cabinet’s approval of the proposal to extend mandatory Social Security Fund (SSF) coverage to all workers, including migrants, employed in agriculture, domestic work and other informal sectors. As a network of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) committed to protecting migrants’ rights, MMN has consistently called for the removal of statutory exclusions that deny informal-sector workers access to the SSF, including benefits in relation to illness, disability, unemployment, childbirth, death, and old‑age. The proposed change has the potential to improve the lives of many migrant workers, particularly migrant women, who are over-represented in low-wage informal sector employment.
The 180 day period between publication in the Royal Gazette and policy rollout provides a window of opportunity to engage migrants and employers to strengthen their understanding of the SSF and support wider enrolment. At present, just one in four eligible migrant workers are enrolled. MMN’s research shows that even migrants who are enrolled have limited knowledge of the SSF and the benefits available. They rarely receive official information and thus rely on CSOs, social media, and co-workers for details. Participants at MMN’s regular migrant consultations frequently remark that official information does not reach them due to language barriers. They also commonly report instances of employers deducting social security contributions from wages without completing enrolment or paying employer contributions. Workers in informal sectors are by nature difficult to reach, making SSF enrolment especially challenging. Many agricultural workers live in remote rural areas, while the employers of domestic workers often do not consider themselves employers or recognise their homes as workplaces, further complicating outreach.
With limited exposure to social protection schemes in their home countries, many migrants lack awareness of the benefits of social security and may not fully trust the system. Present difficulties in accessing the SSF and unequal treatment reinforce these concerns. As one migrant worker noted: “We cannot easily check our rights or contribution records online like Thai workers can”.
While expanding SSF eligibility to informal sector workers is a vital step toward closing a long standing protection gap, enabling measures are needed to make the system more accessible and inclusive. MMN will continue to engage with migrant workers to strengthen their understanding of the SSF, document the challenges they face, and provide opportunities for direct engagement with the social security office.
Recommendations
MMN calls on the Royal Thai Government to take the following steps to strengthen SSF accessibility and effectiveness:
(1) Strengthen the monitoring and enforcement of employer compliance in registering migrant workers and paying SSF employer contributions;
(2) Strengthen outreach, in order to facilitate first time SSF enrolment among informal-sector migrant workers and their employers, with a focus on providing clear guidance and hands on assistance;
(3) Make the process of enrolling and claiming social security benefits less complex and time-consuming;
(4) Provide more interpreters and staff with specific skills to assist migrant workers at social security offices;
(5) Ensure that the SSF’s online platforms are accessible to migrant workers; and
(6) Strengthen coordination with local CSOs in order to reach the large number of informal sector migrant workers living in border regions, major agricultural hubs, and urban centres such as Bangkok. Partnering with other outreach efforts, including public health activities, can help extend coverage and improve impact.
