Bangkok: The Political Committee has called on the Social Security Office (SSO) to release raw data from a recent public hearing concerning amendments to the rules and changes to the SSO board. The committee's request aims to provide transparency in the decision-making process regarding these amendments. Additionally, the committee urged the Minister of Labour to evaluate the possibility of utilizing private sector or special organizations for the management of the fund to ensure transparency.

According to Thai News Agency, Senator Noraset Prachyakorn, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Political Development, Public Participation, Human Rights, Freedoms, and Consumer Protection, revealed the committee's findings about the amendments to the Social Security Board election rules. The committee requested that the SSO disclose data from a public hearing that concluded on February 14th, including participant numbers and their positions on the amendments, to facilitate further study. However, the SSO stated that the data disclosure must await the completion of a content analysis, a delay that concerns the committee.

Mr. Noraset expressed concerns that delaying the release of this data could hinder public participation. The Digital Government Agency (DGA), which conducted the hearing, indicated that the data could be processed and disclosed rapidly. Consequently, the SSO plans to request the results from the DGA this week, with expectations to release the raw data soon for public scrutiny.

In response to potential disapproval from the public hearing, Mr. Noraset noted that the SSO intends to weigh both the number of dissenting voices and their reasoning. The decision to amend the rules will consider these factors, highlighting the importance of understanding the rationale behind public opinions.

Mr. Noraset criticized the SSO's justification for initiating the amendments, noting that the rationale of encouraging insured persons to vote was weak. He emphasized that future elections would likely see high turnout even without such amendments, as voters recognize the board's role in safeguarding their rights.

Furthermore, Mr. Noraset called upon the incoming Minister of Labour to address issues within the Social Security Fund. He advocated for transitioning the management model from a bureaucratic system to a private entity or special organization to ensure transparency and maximize benefits for insured persons.