Did Thailand's Employee Welfare Fund contributions start on 1 October? Have they been delayed?
1. The exact current status
Original start date: 1 October 2026.
Minister's statement: may be delayed by about six months (to ease the flood burden on employers).
Formal documents: as of 2 October 2026, nothing in the Royal Gazette had changed the original date.
New start date: not set. Six months would be around 1 April 2027, but this is only an estimate.
2. Who must contribute
Workplaces with 10 or more employees that do not have a provident fund.
3. How much
Reports differ: one gives 0.25% each for employer and employee; another gives 0.25% to 0.50% each. The formal documents of the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare prevail.
4. What companies should do
Until a formal notice is issued, do not stop or prepay contributions on your own; keep preparing, and budget for both rate figures.
5. Basis and scope of service
Basis: the Labour Minister's statement in Parliament on 1 October 2026 (reported by The Standard); documents of the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare. Formal notices prevail. See also Three Employment Checks for October in Thailand.
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