On May 27, at the Ministry of Labor, Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn responded to criticism over the Social Security Office’s (SSO) plan to produce calendars at a cost of over 50 million baht. He acknowledged that public hearings showed 62% opposed the idea, but emphasized that 38% still wanted the calendars—representing nearly 10 million insured persons under Sections 33, 39, and 40.
He asserted that even if only 1% of members wanted the calendar, their preferences should be respected. Pipat stated that the calendar project has not yet entered the procurement stage and the final cost has not been determined. He urged critics to value minority voices and not dismiss them as irrelevant.
Regarding concerns over surplus vehicles donated from the SSO to a temple—later passed on to a vocational college—Pipat admitted the cars, including luxury models like Alphard and Volkswagen, were transferred but not sold. He said their use for student training supports practical education, particularly as the vehicles were old and hard to maintain.
Pipat stressed that his remarks aim to highlight the value of the SSO and assure informal workers considering Section 40 registration of the agency’s dedication to all members. He also stated his willingness to publicly defend the SSO if it faces scrutiny but supports full legal accountability if any wrongdoing is confirmed.