"The SSO should become a public organisation," said Thai Labour Solidarity Committee chairperson Wilaiwan sae Tia. She said political interference had hurt the fund, which now stands at Bt400 billion. 

There are now nine million people covered in the social security scheme, which is financed by the social welfare fund.

"Those who manage the fund should directly represent employees and employers," Wilaiwan said, adding that her group would raise the issue with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont next week.

She spoke at a seminar on consumer protection organised by the National Legislative Assembly, Thammasat University and the National Health Foundation.

Dr Ammar Siamwalla, a noted academic of the Thailand Development Research Institute, said a large proportion of the fund was for pensions.

"The fund needs efficient management, otherwise there will be no money to pay pensions in the next 40 years," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham - also social development and human security minister - agreed the SSO should be restructured. "A restructuring is necessary. The SSO may become a public organisation," he said, adding, "What works should be maintained and improved. What does not should be adjusted."

Thammasat University lecturer Pijitra Suppasawatgul, among the research team assigned to determine how to amend the Social Security Act and to turn the SSO into an independent body, said: "Our research has found that employers and employees want the SSO to become independent."