A Study on Converting Lottery Money into Pensions for Thai Informal Workforce
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14456/ndj.2024.5Keywords:
Lottery, Pension, Retirement, Informal Workforce, Government Savings Lottery Fund for RetirementAbstract
The Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index shows that Thailand has hadthe world's worst pension system for several years. This paper addresses the weaknesses of the Thai pension system, particularly in providing for the informal sector workforce.Despite existing government pension schemes being voluntary, their effectivenessis limited, with a significant portion of funds being allocated towards lottery tickets.As a solution, the paper proposes establishing a voluntary savings program namedthe “Government Savings Lottery Fund for Retirement.” This program would convertlottery money into retirement benefits, with pension levels determined by factorssuch as the amount invested, duration of participation, and fund management returns. The proposed system mirrors the National Savings Fund (NSF) in calculating pensions and offers individual capital management accounts. Payments would commence at age 60 as lifetime monthly payments. This proposed system aims to expand labor protection, increase retirement income, ensure financial sustainability, strengthen the capital market, and relieve pressure on government finances
References
Chen, M. A. (2012). The informal economy: Definitions, theories and policies. Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO). A Charitable CompanyLimited by Guarantee-Company No. 6273538, Registered Charity No. 1143510.ISBN 978-92-95095-41-0.
Chongchansi, J. (2015). Factors affecting National Savings Fund membership application: A case study in Bangkok (Master's thesis). Thammasat University. Retrieved May 20, 2023, from http://ethesisarchive.library.tu.ac.th/thesis/2015/TU_2015_5704010833_4722_2820.pdf.
Guven, M. (2019). Extending pension coverage to the informal sector in Africa. World Bank Group, Discussion Paper No. 1933, July 2019.
Handayani, S. W. (2019). Pension extension: Bringing informal workers into the retirementsocial safety net. Asian Development Blog: Straight Talk from Development Experts. Asian Development Bank.
International Labour Office. (2004). Role of the informal sector in coping with economic crisis in Thailand and Zambia. Geneva. ISBN 92-2-115194-8.
International Labour Organization (ILO). (2018). Women and men in the informal economy: A statistical picture (3rd ed.). Geneva: International Labour Organization.
Kapilkan, M., & Nonthitipong, W. (2021). Informal labor: Impacts and challenges in the era of COVID-19. Economic Structural Policy Department, Bank of Thailand.
Kim, C., MacKellar, L., Galer, R. G., & Bhardwaj, G. (2012). Implementing an inclusiveand equitable pension reform: Lessons from India’s new pension scheme. AsianDevelopment Bank and Routledge, London, and New York.
McKinnon, R. I. (1973). Money and capital in economic development. Washington, D.C.: Brookings.Mercer. (2022). Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index [Online]. Retrieved November 2022, from https://www.mercer.com/our-thinking/global-pension-index-2021.html.
National Savings Fund. (2023). Background. Retrieved November 2022, from https://www.nsf.or.th/content.
National Statistical Office. (2019). Summary of important results. Informal Labor ForceSurvey 2019. Retrieved June 2023, from binfopub@nso.go.th.
National Statistical Office. (2021). Summary of important results. Informal Labor ForceSurvey 2021. Retrieved June 2023, from binfopub@nso.go.th.
Parliamentary Budget Office. (2016). Study of national savings fund operations. AcademicReport of the Parliamentary Budget Office, No. 4/2016.
Pinheiro, V. C. (2006). Pensions arrangements for informal workers. Paper presented at the OECD/IOPS Global Forum on Private Pensions, November 2006.
Problem Gambling Study Center. (2019). Report on gambling situation in Thai society 2019.
Retrieved from http://www.gamblingstudy-th.org/document_book/160/1/3/CGS-conference-2019/.
Rolf, D., Clark, S., & Bryant, C. W. (2016). Portable benefits in the 21st century: Shaping a new system of benefits for independent workers. The Aspen Institute.
Social Security Office. (1990). Social Security Act, B.E. 2533 (1990). Retrieved June 20, 2023,from https://www.mol.go.th/social_security_act_2533_sso1pdf.
Suwanrada, W. (2014). The Government Pension Reform. Printery of Chulalongkorn University: Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University. (In Thai)
Thaler, R. H., & Benartzi, S. (2004). Save More Tomorrow: Using behavioral economics to increase employee saving. Journal of Political Economy, 112(1), pt. 2.
Van Ginneken, W. (1999). Social security for the informal sector: A new challenge for the developing countries. International Social Security Review, 52(1), 19 December 2002, 49-69. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-246X.00033.
Vora-Sittha. (2008). An evaluation of the possibility in reshaping lottery money to long-term savings for the poor in outer Bangkok (Thailand). Journal of Development Administration, 58(January-March 2018), 74-102.
Vora-Sittha, P., & Klingthong, P. (2021). Policies and measures to create a pension system for the aging society of Thailand. Center for Research on Aging Society, Research Center, National Institute of Development Administration.Vora-Sittha, P., & Klingthong, P. (2022). Policies and measures to create a pension system for the aging society of Thailand: A case study of Government Savings Retirement Lottery Fund for Informal Workers. Center for Research on Aging Society, Research Center,National Institute of Development Administration.
World Bank. (2012). Reducing poverty among the elderly in Thailand: The role of pensionprograms and social assistance. Retrieved May 20, 2023, from http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/355211468120870525/pdf/805270WP0THAI00Box0382091B00PUBLIC0.pdf.
World Economic Forum. (2023). Charted: How life expectancy is changing around the world. Retrieved February 23, 2023, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/02/charted-how-life-expectancy-is-changing-around-the-world/?DAG=3&gclid=Cj0KCQjwtO-kBHDIARIsAL6LorcQ53eqBU_SCbLxaL1NwWJALVRb9T7DqYi9SUW5Pct60rlN-1meovDEaAqiIEALw_wcB.
Yongyut Chalamwong. (2015). A research study of the Central Labor Market Database Project in ASEAN Region. Bangkok: Thailand Development Research Institute Foundation. Retrieved May 20, 2023, from https://www.car.chula.ac.th/display7.php?bib=b2056606.
Yu-Wei Hu, & Fiona Stewart. (2009). Pension coverage and informal sector workers: International experiences. OECD Working Paper on Insurance and Private Pensions No.31, p.11-12.Yu-Wei Hu and Fiona Stewart. (2009), Pension coverage and informal sector workers:International Experiences, OECD Working Paper on Insurance and Private PensionsNo.31, p.11-12.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 NIDA Development Journal

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

