Payroll and social security
The Workmen's Compensation Fund: what an employer pays, and when
Facts checked against the sources on · Updated · Sources
The Workmen's Compensation Fund (กองทุนเงินทดแทน) is paid by the employer alone; employees contribute nothing. The rate depends on the business type, from 0.20% to 1.00% of wages, counting at most 240,000 baht per employee a year (20,000 baht a month). The employer pays the year's estimate in January, reports the wages actually paid in the year by the end of February of the next year, and settles the difference by the end of March.
Who pays#
Every employer with an employee contributes to the Fund ("contribution means money the employer pays into the Workmen's Compensation Fund"), except:
- an individual employer whose employee's work is not a business;
- hawkers and market stalls;
- government agencies and state enterprises, to which the Workmen's Compensation Act does not apply (s.4).
The rate#
- The rates are in Table 1 of the Labour Ministry's announcement of 21 February 2562 (2019): 1,091 business types, from 0.20% to 1.00%.
- The Social Security Office assigns each employer one business type code, by its main business.
- From 1 January 2570 (2027) a new table applies, under the announcement No. 2 of 11 September 2569 (2026): 452 business types pay less and none more.
- From the fifth year of contributions, the Office adjusts the rate by the employer's loss ratio (the compensation paid against the contributions) under Table 2: from −50% to +50%, and from 2570 from −70% to +50%. The rate notified is in the Office's e-Rate service.
The wages counted#
- Wages are every kind of money the employer pays for work on normal working days and hours, including pay for holidays and leave.
- The cap: an employee paid more than 240,000 baht a year counts 240,000 (the Office: at most 20,000 baht a month per person), cut in proportion for part of a year.
- Rounding: a fraction of the contribution of 50 satang or more counts as one baht; less is dropped.
- There is no minimum contribution.
The year's dates#
| Step | Form | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Pay the year's estimate the Office notifies | กท.26ก | Within January of that year |
| Report the wages actually paid in the year, through e-Wage | กท.20ก | Within February of the next year |
| Pay the difference the Office bills | กท.25ค | By the end of March of the next year |
A surplus is refunded within 30 days or credited to the next year. For 2569 (2026) the Office announced 31 January 2569 (the estimate), 28 February 2569 (the wages report) and 31 March 2569 (the difference).
Late payment carries a surcharge of 2% a month from the day after the due date, at most the amount of the contribution.
What employees get from the Fund#
An employee injured at work who stops working receives 70% of the monthly wage from the first day off, for up to a year, according to the Social Security Office, and the time off for a work injury is not sick leave (Labour Protection Act s.32, para 3).
Worked example#
A company has 11 employees through 2569: 10 paid 15,000 baht a month and one paid 50,000 baht a month. Suppose its business type's rate is 0.20%.
| Employees | Wages paid in the year | Wages counted | Contribution at 0.20% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10, each 15,000 × 12 | 1,800,000.00 | 1,800,000.00 | 3,600.00 |
| 1, 50,000 × 12 | 600,000.00 | 240,000.00 | 480.00 |
| Total | 2,400,000.00 | 2,040,000.00 | 4,080.00 |
The year's contribution is 4,080 baht. If the estimate paid in January 2569 was less, the company pays the difference by the end of March 2570; if it was more, the surplus is refunded or credited.
In Panya#
Panya's payroll takes your business type code in the payroll settings, and every run then accrues the contribution on the salary and other pay paid every month, within 20,000 baht a month and 240,000 a year per employee. The Workmen's compensation page shows each employee's wages counted, the year's contribution, the rate notified, the estimate and the three dates. See The Workmen's Compensation Fund in the manual.
FAQ#
Do employees contribute to the Workmen's Compensation Fund?#
No. The employer alone pays, unlike social security, where the employee and the employer each pay 5%.
What is the contribution rate?#
It depends on the business type code the Social Security Office assigns, from 0.20% to 1.00% of wages, and from the fifth year it may be adjusted by the business's loss ratio.
How are salaries above 20,000 baht a month counted?#
At most 240,000 baht per employee a year, or 20,000 baht a month, is counted; wages above that pay no contribution.
When is it paid and reported?#
The estimate is paid within January, the previous year's wages are reported on กท.20ก within February, and the difference is paid by the end of March.
Do the rates change in 2570?#
Yes. From 1 January 2570 (2027) the new table of the Labour Ministry's announcement No. 2 applies: 452 business types pay less and none pays more.
Sources#
- The Workmen's Compensation Fund, Social Security Office
- Workmen's Compensation Act B.E. 2537, ss.4, 5 and 44–46, Royal Gazette vol. 111 part 28 ก (30 June 2537), as amended by the Act (No. 2) B.E. 2561, Royal Gazette vol. 135 part 80 ก (10 October 2561)
- Labour Ministry announcement on business types, contribution rates and the assessment and collection of contributions, 21 February 2562, Royal Gazette vol. 136 part 67 ง p. 19 (19 March 2562)
- The same announcement (No. 2), 11 September 2569, Royal Gazette vol. 143 part 243 ง p. 17 (6 October 2569)
- Social Security Office release No. 203 (26 December 2568) on the Workmen's Compensation Fund dates of 2569
- Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541, consolidated to No. 9, Department of Labour Protection and Welfare
This guide is general information from the sources above, as they read on the day they were checked. It is not legal or tax advice: rules change, so check the sources, or ask an accountant, before you rely on it.