Employee Welfare Fund (EWF) Implementation Postponed to October 2026
- leowatanabe5
- 5 days ago
- 1 min read
The Thai Cabinet has officially approved a one-year postponement of the Employee Welfare Fund (EWF), a mandatory social security scheme aimed at employers with 10 or more employees. Originally set to begin on October 1, 2025, the EWF will now take effect on October 1, 2026.
What is the Employee Welfare Fund?
The EWF is a government-managed fund designed to provide financial protection to employees who face unemployment, retirement, or death, especially those not covered by Provident Funds (PVD). It is part of broader reforms under Thailand's Labour Protection Act.
Contribution rates on October 1, 2026, will remain the same as the initial regulations:
From 2026 to 2031, employers and employees would be subject to 0.25% of wages each.
From 2031 onward, contributions from the employers and employees would rise to 0.5% of wages each.
What Does This Mean For Employers?
Starting October 2026, companies in Thailand with 10 or more employees must register for the EWF, unless they already have a Provident Fund (PVD) in place. If your company operates in Thailand, you will need to assess your current benefit program and plan for future payroll contributions to ensure compliance when the EWF takes effect. The government is expected to release further information related to the EWF compliance methods closer to the implementation date next year.
Contact us to discover how Bizwings can help you stay compliant in the Thai business landscape, from payroll to accounting and taxation.
For more regular updates on the regulatory landscape in Thailand, follow us on LinkedIn.
