Helping Working Women – Thailand Extends Maternity Leave To 98 Days

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Helping Working Women – Thailand Extends Maternity Leave To 98 Days

Thailand is enhancing its maternity leave policy, increasing the duration from 90 days to 98 days. This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Labour, aims to improve benefits for Social Security Fund (SSF) members and better support working mothers and their families. In this article, the experts at Pacific Prime Thailand will take a deep dive into this and other major enhancements to employee benefits in Thailand slated for implementation starting in 2025.

Details of Maternity Leave Extension

The extension is part of broader reforms to modernize the SSF managed by the Social Security Office (SSO) and improve employee welfare in Thailand. Key features of the new policy include:

Maternity Leave Duration: To be extended to 98 days.
Allowance During Leave: To remain at 50% of daily wage.
Eligibility: SSF members, including registered foreign workers, will receive the same benefits as Thai nationals.

Benefits of the Extension

The benefits of the extended maternity leave are significant:

Support for New Mothers: Longer leave allows mothers to recover and bond with their newborns, enhancing physical and emotional health.
Work-Life Balance: Additional leave promotes a better balance between work and family responsibilities, potentially increasing job satisfaction and retention.
Global Standards Alignment: Aligning with international maternity leave practices enhances Thailand’s overall attractiveness to talent across the globe.

Other Proposed Improvements to Employee Benefits

The Ministry of Labour has also introduced several additional improvements to employee benefits, effective in 2025:

Enhanced Disability Support

Monthly financial support for disabled subscribers will increase from 50% to 70% of their income loss, providing better financial stability.

Extended Contribution Period

The contribution period for SSF members will extend from age 60 to 65, allowing workers to accumulate benefits longer, especially beneficial for those working past retirement age.

Improved Benefits for Freelancers

Freelancers will receive enhanced benefits, including:

Monthly Support: Disabled freelancers will receive a lifetime monthly payment of THB ฿3,000 (USD $90).
Child Support: A monthly payment of THB ฿300 (USD $9) for each child under seven, up to two children.

Increased Insurance Benefits

Proposed changes include higher insurance payouts for accidents, sickness, disability, or death, ensuring better protection for workers and their families.

Strengthening the Financial Position of Thailand’s Social Security Fund

The Thai government is implementing a strategic plan to bolster the financial stability of the SSF amid concerns about potential bankruptcy of the SSF within 30 years. The focus is on increasing member registrations, particularly among migrant workers, and expanding coverage to more local workers, including those in informal sectors.

Increasing Member Registrations

Thailand hosts around five million migrant workers, but only about 1.4 million are registered in the SSF. This presents a significant opportunity to grow the member base.

Registering More Workers

The government aims to include more informal workers, such as farmers and domestic staff, who currently lack access to social security benefits.

Partner with Pacific Prime Thailand

Moving abroad can be both exciting and challenging, and securing appropriate insurance coverage adds certainty during this transition.

Pacific Prime Thailand specializes in insurance including international and expat health insurance, and they can guide you through the complexities of adapting to new environments. They also have extensive expertise in employee benefits, helping organizations navigate these changes effectively.

Contact Pacific Prime Thailand to begin your discussion today!

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Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.