thai labour law states that staff should be allowed 30 paid sick days per year, and 6 annual leave days. there are also around 14 public holidays granted each year.

at my last place of employment i THINK all staff had this insurance card, but i could very well be wrong on this point.

Should also point out thats for legally employed persons who are paying taxation etc.. Very often staff in bar work or many other professions are simply working black and hence wouldnt get any sick pay etc..

Talking to my GF again she doesnt have any work provided medical cover and thats working for a tax paying registered job. So it would seem that unless its a job perk she doesnt know about that its not legally required.

It is legally required, the employer pays half of the monthly payment (based on the wage earned) and the employee pays half (National Insurance program as solosiam mentioned).

I will get her to ask about it.. One extra bit of cover..

How does it work and what amounts are claimable ?? I assume this is something better than the government hospitals accessible under the 30 baht healthcare systems ??

I will get her to ask about it.. One extra bit of cover..

How does it work and what amounts are claimable ?? I assume this is something better than the government hospitals accessible under the 30 baht healthcare systems ??

It's exactly the same but its free nowadays, you can also claim for childbirth etc...

Without asking her but maybe thats what she meant by not having any insurance.. To be fair I asked her about medical insurance and I can quite understand how her mind equals government hospital = no insurance. In all fairness I assumed it was something better than the cover anyone employed or not gets for nothing (or 30 baht).