Labour groups Thursday marked National Work Safety Day by petitioning the Labour Ministry to improve access to financial compensation provided under the fund covering the costs of work-related illnesses and injuries, which remains a challenge facing many workers insured under the social security system.
Leading the submission of the petition to Labour Minister Pol Gen Adul Sangsingkeo, Thai Labour Solidarity Committee president Sawit Kaewwan said all workers insured under the social security system should be assured of having unrestricted access to the fund in the event of injury, illness or disability associated with their work.
One way to assure the unrestricted access to the fund's compensation is to allow at least one representative of the labour groups to sit on either the Social Security Office's (SSO) medical panel or the committee managing the compensation fund, Mr Sawit said.
Somboon Srikhamdokkhae of a labour group calling itself the Network for People Suffering Work-related Illnesses said a major problem reflecting the still poor access by workers to the fund's benefits is that many companies try to avoid them claiming compensation from the fund.
A common tactic found adopted by many employers is providing their employees with a group healthcare insurance policy, which normally offers limited healthcare benefits, so that they won't have to seek compensation from the fund, which provides a maximum compensation of up to 2 million baht per person, she said.
In some cases with subcontracted workers, employees would be forced out of their jobs without any help, she said.
Suradej Waleeittikul, SSO secretary-general, said under the SSO law, the employer is responsible for notifying the compensation fund within 15 days from the day it is aware of an employee's worked-related accident.
Any employer found to have failed to perform this duty may face a maximum prison sentence of six months and/or a maximum fine of 10,000 baht, he said.
