PATTAYA, Thailand – Thailand has introduced new regulations allowing authorities to seize and auction assets from employers who fail to pay required contributions to the employee welfare fund.
Lalida Prertwiwattana, deputy government spokesperson, said the Ministry of Labour of Thailand has issued a new regulation governing the seizure, freezing and auctioning of assets under the Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541.
The regulation was published in the Royal Gazette of Thailand on March 6, 2026, and will come into effect 90 days after its publication.
The new rules aim to clarify procedures and improve efficiency when authorities pursue employers who fail to submit required payments to the Employee Welfare Fund, submit incomplete payments, or leave contributions unpaid.
The regulation also covers cases where the welfare fund has already paid compensation to employees and must later recover the money from employers responsible for the payments.
According to Lalida, the key provisions establish clearer enforcement procedures, including issuing warnings, investigating assets, ordering asset seizures or freezes, auctioning assets and transferring the proceeds to repay debts owed to the employee welfare fund.
The procedures are designed to align with Thailand’s civil procedure laws and administrative regulations.
Under the new rules, labour inspectors will be able to request asset information from relevant agencies such as financial institutions, the Land Department, the Department of Land Transport, the Department of Intellectual Property and other government bodies that hold records of property ownership.
The regulation also clearly defines the types of assets that can be seized or frozen. These include movable and immovable property, claims, shares, securities, intellectual property rights, leasehold rights and other assets with financial value.
It also outlines procedures for cases where assets are located in different jurisdictions, jointly owned, or disputed by other parties.
Authorities said the regulation also ensures fairness by allowing affected individuals or third parties who claim ownership of seized assets to file objections. If investigations determine that the property should not be seized, authorities can revoke the order.
Clear procedures have also been established for auctioning confiscated assets, including requirements for public announcements, timelines, locations, deposit conditions, payment procedures and ownership transfers.
Officials say the new regulation will improve enforcement of labour protection laws and help ensure employees receive compensation and financial support as required under Thai law. (TNA)
