Compensation for Families of Bangkok Building Collapse Victims Set to 2 Million Baht

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Workers clean and wash the road outside the site of an under construction high-rise building that collapsed after an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April, 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

 

Tragedy struck in Bangkok as families of victims of a disastrous building collapse are poised to receive compensation from the Ministry of Labour.

 

Family members of those who perished when the State Audit Office building crumbled can expect payouts of up to 2 million baht. Assurances have been made to treat both Thai and migrant workers with the same consideration.

 

Boonsong Thapchaiyuth, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, confirmed that the application for compensation will be handled swiftly, with payments disbursed within 15 days.

 

Compensation will range from 1 to 2 million baht per family, and the Ministry is committed to ensuring injured migrant workers receive identical support to Thai citizens. Employers also have a duty to compensate under the Social Security Scheme.

 

In addition to the compensation for the bereaved, the Ministry is covering medical expenses for the injured via the Social Security Office and compensation fund.

 

 

 

Those left jobless by the catastrophe will be eligible for unemployment benefits of 7,500 baht monthly for up to six months. The Ministry is working towards a full count of affected workers, promising to complete the tally by April 8.

 

Rescue teams remain on-site searching for 77 missing individuals amidst the ruins of the 30-storey building. The confirmed death toll recently climbed from 15 to 17 as two more bodies were unearthed.

 

Concerns about building safety have surged among Bangkok residents, fuelled by a survey from the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA).

 

Between April 1 and 3, 1,300 Bangkok residents expressed worries about the structural stability of city buildings since the Myanmar earthquake. About 68% expressed growing anxieties, and 59.4% voiced doubts about the efficiency of existing early warning systems.

 

Additionally, varying confidence in building safety was disclosed, with 60% trusting shopping malls, and only 41% confident in private residential buildings.

 

The aftermath of this disaster underscores the urgent need for reviewing building safety regulations to prevent future tragedies. The focal point remains on providing immediate support and assistance to the victims and their families.

 

Based on a story by The Thaiger

 

-- 2025-04-08