In what has become a heated exchange over how taxpayer money is being handled, the People’s Party (PP), a formidable opposition force, has levied serious allegations against the Social Security Office (SSO) regarding lavish expenditures. At the core of their claims lies a question of accountability and the necessity for the SSO’s outsized spending on overseas trips, training initiatives, and flashy public relations campaigns.
Ratchanok Srinok, a notable Bangkok Member of Parliament, donned her detective hat and went public with her discoveries following a spirited “Hack the SSO Budget” forum held this past Saturday. In her pointed social media statement, she outlined six major points of contention, shedding light on the ballooning budgets the SSO has been wielding over the last few years. The financial trajectory she presented shows a steep ascent: from a relatively modest sum of 4 billion baht in 2020, soaring to a hefty 6.61 billion baht just a few years later in 2023. Not just content with general increases, the strategic budget itself has been climbing aggressively, doubling from 965 million baht in 2020 to an expected two billion by 2024. One must ask, how has the SSO planned to utilize these extra funds?
Topping the list of mind-boggling management choices was the 1506 Hotline fiasco. With a 100 million baht allocation claimed by the hotline, it seems just half of that has already been eaten up by the notoriously high rental fees, this despite ongoing grumbles from Social Security Fund (SSF) subscribers about perpetually busy lines. Are we really getting our money’s worth?
And then, in the world of apps and digital transformation, Ratchanok raised eyebrows with her critique of the 550 million baht investment poured into application development. The transition from an antiquated computer system to a glitzy new web-based platform: was it change for the sake of it, or truly necessary? The provocatively high price tag on the “SSO+” mobile app, coming in at an eyebrow-raising 276 million baht, has certainly set tongues wagging, especially amid whispers of dodgy dealings during its procurement process. User reviews speak louder than numbers here, with an abysmal score of 1.5 stars leaving many subscribers at their wits’ end, unable to even make payments.
Ratchanok didn’t stop there. She called into question the supposed enlightenment promised by the SSO’s training budget. It turns out, programs like foreign language training were all talk and little substance, often deemed redundant and meeting with little proper assessment. Public relations strategies suffered a similar fate; designed to reach the demographics of tomorrow, their presentations failed to engage younger audiences, coming across more as dull lecture than captivating storytime.
Independent creators, fascinatingly enough, have made the most headway here. Their viral content has engaged the public far beyond the reach of the SSO’s 336-million-baht budget meant for public relations in the 2024 fiscal year. It’s a classic David vs. Goliath situation, with the little guy stealing the limelight.
Boonsong Thapchaiyuth, standing firm as the Labour permanent secretary and head of the SSO board, promised transparency in addressing these eye-opening concerns. He assured anxious subscribers that these contentious expenditures have no bearing on SSF benefits, which are thankfully managed independently from SSO’s broad financial decisions.
SSO’s secretary-general, Marasri Jairangsri, was keen to remind everyone that digital resilience runs strong in the SSO with alternative payment means amply available: e-banking systems handle no less than 96% of transactions, keeping the wheels of efficiency well-oiled.
The slicing criticism directed at the SSO came on the heels of a major political shift, where the Progressive Social Security group, a PP affiliate, managed an impressive sweep of all seven employee sector seats during the SSO board member elections in December 2023. The board provides a cross-section of governance with its 21 members wielding influence at this crucial crossroad of employers, employees, and diligent government representatives.
This saga is far from concluded. With such colorful characters at play and financial stakes sky-high, the coming months promise high drama as the opposition and incumbent parties lock horns over the way cherished public funds should be managed. Stay tuned, as we’re sure to hear more from this spirited debate of dollars, sense, and security.
I think Ratchanok Srinok is doing a great job exposing the misuse of funds by the SSO. It’s time for accountability!
I agree, but I also worry about the political motives behind her actions. Can we really trust the People’s Party?
That’s a fair point. But at least these issues are being brought to light. True transparency is crucial at this stage.
As long as it leads to improvements, I think it’s worth any political games.
Why spend so much on an app that doesn’t even work well? 1.5 stars? The funds could be used much better elsewhere.
Lol, is anyone surprised about government overspending? They need to seriously reevaluate their priorities.
Exactly! It’s like they don’t even know how to manage a budget properly.
Budget mismanagement is a theme I’ve been hearing too often lately.
From a financial perspective, it’s insane how they justify these expenses. Taxpayers aren’t getting their money’s worth.
The hotline mess is just ridiculous! Busy lines and high costs – who’s benefiting from this?
I feel bad for those relying on that service. They deserve better.
Absolutely, and it’s their taxes funding this shoddy service. So frustrating!
Training programs sound like a joke. How can such obsolete initiatives be justified in today’s world?
Interesting how independent creators can achieve more with less. Mini social media moguls beating giant public funds!
True! Shows where real creativity lies.
Exactly, maybe the SSO should take notes!
It’s a real underdog story for sure.
I just hope this shakes things up enough to spur real change within the SSO.
PP might seem opportunistic to some, but they are definitely spotlighting real issues that affect us.
Looking forward to how the Progressive Social Security will influence this whole situation. New leadership could be a game-changer.
Agreed, fresh perspectives are often needed to improve legacy systems.
Are we surprised at the padding of budgets? This isn’t new, but someone should be held accountable for inflating costs like these.
Can we have a proper probe into the app procurement process? Sounds like shady dealings to me.
From a teacher’s standpoint, ineffective training is a waste of time and resources. Why not invest in quality?
With global awareness on climate change and sustainability, even these financial systems need a green overhaul.
Interesting perspective, there could be cuts made in spending to fund environmental initiatives instead.
I think the focus should be on improving these services rather than just criticizing them. Constructive change is key.
Yes, but sometimes public outcry is necessary to highlight problems that need addressing.
I’m just waiting for the popcorn part of this saga. More drama inbound for sure. 🤷
SSO needs to justify all expenditures publicly. It’s our money and we deserve transparency.
Public accountability in a financial crisis is crucial. We can’t let governments slide with overspending.