Migrant workers who leave the country and return to resume employment will not see their rights to social security privileges disrupted, according to the Social Security Office (SSO).
The workers are required to return to their home countries after having worked in Thailand for a maximum of four years.
In the past they had to wait at least three years before reapplying to work in Thailand again; however, a memorandum of understanding was amended by the previous government to allow workers to return immediately.
Upon their return, they must register again with authorities to ascertain their working status. However, re-registration, which ended at the end of last month, involves applying again for the social security scheme.
The workers have to pay a start-up fee and will not have immediate access to the scheme's privileges, such as free medical care.
Adithep Suwannawat, of Samut Sakhon's SSO — a province with a large population of Myanmar migrant workers — said measures are in place to ensure that returnees can access social security privileges right away.
The SSO has asked that workers' country of origin issue written proof that the returnees have social security records in Thailand and are eligible to resume access to welfare benefits.
The issue of access to social security privileges dominated a labour rights seminar organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) yesterday.
Sunee Chairos, a former senator and former member of the NHRC, said migrant workers must receive social security protection both during and outside of their working hours.
Although the law allows them to subscribe to the social security scheme, only a small number did, and they rarely exercised their rights, such as financial compensation during unemployment, she said.
To receive coverage, the workers must contribute 5% of their wage to the SSO.
Ms Sunee said the Social Security Act is being amended to qualify migrant worker social security subscribers to receive a lump sum upon leaving the scheme.