Bangkok: Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul has mandated the Social Security Office to issue a clear statement regarding allegations of misconduct, stressing that any proven wrongdoing should be addressed legally rather than through social media.
According to Thai News Agency, Anutin discussed the criticism surrounding the Social Security Office's operations and revealed that he had consulted with Minister of Labour Trinuch Thianthong, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, and the Secretary-General of the Social Security Office to ascertain the facts, as he had not been informed of any serious issues as reported in the news.
The involved parties confirmed inaccuracies in the information being circulated and agreed that if an agency is implicated, a formal public clarification should be made, allowing the media to ask questions in detail. Following a meeting of the Social Security Board, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and the Secretary-General of the Social Security Office are set to address the press.
Anutin highlighted that during this caretaker government phase, following the dissolution of parliament, actions binding the next government cannot be taken. He stated that the administration of social security is a responsibility of the committee and the tripartite system, which includes representatives from three parties, ensuring no direct orders can be issued by any single entity, and reaffirmed that the government has not interfered.
He proposed a potential future policy to restructure the administration for greater clarity, transparency, and independence, possibly adopting a model akin to the Government Pension Fund (GPF) and employing a recruitment system instead of appointing civil servants as secretary-general.
Addressing the ongoing debate over the Social Security Board formula and the election of representatives, Anutin noted that the specifics remain undecided and suggested inquiring directly with the Minister of Labour.
In response to political parties leveraging the social security issue to criticize the government, Anutin clarified that the board, not the government, holds authority over these matters. He emphasized that transparency allegations, including those related to travel or budget spending, must be grounded in factual evidence. Any proven wrongdoing should lead to legal proceedings, and he discouraged making accusations through media or social media channels, as it does not serve the public interest.