On a day when the spirit of solidarity was palpable in the air, a tide of enthusiastic participants swelled through the streets of Nonthaburi. Banners high and voices lifted, labor groups convened in a vibrant parade, their chants ringing out demands for sweeping changes to the landscape of employment. This was no ordinary march; this was a clarion call for a new dawn in workers’ rights and welfare. The World Day for Decent Work on October 7, 2020, became a stage for their unified plea, right outside the bastion of social securities—the Social Security Office—captured in a photograph that spoke louder than words. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya)
The elections that followed this pivotal moment marked a new chapter in the annals of the Social Security Board (SSB), with the Progressive Social Security group striking a formidable victory. After the dust of democratic fervor settled, fourteen fresh faces emerged, handpicked by the guardians of the Social Security Fund (SSF)—its members. The new entrants bore the standards of both employees and employers, an equilibrium of representation in decision-making.
The campaign trail saw a bustling roster: ten groups with a staggering 228 hopefuls jockeying for the privilege to voice the concerns of employees. Equally fervent, if not quite as numerous, were the 65 contenders eyeing the employer representatives’ seats.
In this august assembly of the SSB, a confluence of key ministries—Labour, Finance, Interior, and Public Health—stood side by side with the Budget Bureau, and now, the fresh emissaries of employers and employees. As the count inches tantalizingly close to its completion (99.57%), whispers of the new order began to crystallize into the definitive sounds of victory. The names of the frontrunners—Sattharam Thammabusadee, Thanapong Chuamuangpan, Chalit Ratthapana, Sivawong Sukthawee, Nalatporn Krairuek, Laksamee Suwanphakdee, and Prathana Podee—resonated through the halls, flags of the Progressive Social Security group flying high.
The employer’s side laid out the red carpet for its victors: a full tally crowned Montri Thirakhothai, Vipawan Maprasert, Siriwan Romchatthong, Sompong Nakhonsri, Suwit Sipioan, Thaweekiat Rongsawata, and Phetcharat Aeksangkul as the anointed seven.
It was Mr. Sattharam, a sage of academia from Thammasat University, who shimmered in the afterglow of this democratic conquest. He echoed the sentiments of progress, interpreting the elections as a harbinger of change so deeply craved by the workforce.
With a heart brimming with gratitude, Mr. Sattharam, on behalf of the victorious group, extended a heartfelt “thank you” to the electorate. His eyes firmly set on the horizon, he pledged an unyielding commitment to champion the cause of labor rights and fortify the bulwarks of their protection.
There was no time to rest on laurels; the group’s grand vision took shape immediately. At the forefront of their manifesto was the intensification of benefits for insured workers, levelling the healthcare playing field, and the installation of a lantern of transparency to illumine the investments of the Social Security Fund.
The SSB, now shouldering a responsibility that stretched far and wide, took its role as the lodestar—advising on policies, conjuring regulations, all under the vigilant eyes of the Finance Ministry.
Yet, in the shadows lurked challenges of herculean proportions, as noted by the thinkers at TDRI—ensuring the medical welfare of beneficiaries and navigating the treacherous waters of pension fund sustainability.
But even in this triumphant echo, a discordant note—the Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn—was forced to reckon with a voter turnout that was less than stellar. Against the backdrop of over 850,000 emotive voices of the social security choir, only 150,000 deemed the ballot worthy of their time—a mere 18.36%. The employers, on the other hand, almost tipped the scales of expectation, with 46.82% casting votes.
In the end, the silent majority spoke volumes, leaving behind a reflection on the duality of apathy and ardor that defines the democratic pulse. This election—a momentous step, a leap, really—shaped not just the composition of the SSB but embodied the very essence of what it means to live and work with dignity in the throes of societal reformation.
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