1,099+
Movement members
as of May 8, 2026
Dozens
Provinces mobilized
on a single day
Same day
Lawyers Council confirms
working group formation

Bangkok Headquarters: The Lak Si Action

At the Lawyers Council of Thailand's main office in Lak Si, Bangkok, hundreds of Section 39 contributors dressed in white — the movement's color of purity and justice — arrived to formally document their cases. The group was led by Dr. Boon Arayapon D.V.M., LL.B., founder of the "Khor Keun Mai Dai Khor Taan" movement (roughly: "We're Reclaiming, Not Begging").

Dr. Boon Arayapon submitting the open letter to the Deputy President of the Lawyers Council of Thailand
Hundreds of Section 39 workers in white shirts gathered outside the Lawyers Council headquarters in Lak Si
Lawyers Council Headquarters, Lak Si, Bangkok — the delegation presented formal documentation to Deputy President Saranlcha Sricholwattana

The key moment came when Saranlcha Sricholwattana, Deputy President for Public Legal Assistance, came down personally to receive the documents and hear testimony directly from the delegation.

FOOTAGE: Dr. Boon submits the formal complaint package to Deputy President Saranlcha Sricholwattana
Section 39 workers seated in the Lawyers Council conference room for formal proceedings
Group raises fists in unison at the end of the Lawyers Council meeting — a historic moment
Inside the Lawyers Council conference room — workers raise fists in solidarity after proceedings conclude
✅ Outcome at Lak Si Headquarters
Lawyers Council Confirms: "We Will Form a Fact-Finding Working Group"
Deputy President Saranlcha confirmed the Council will establish a working group to investigate the facts, with the aim of seeking revocation of the ministerial regulation deemed unjust and restoring pension benefits reduced by over 70%. This was the first concrete institutional commitment secured by the movement.

Nakhon Ratchasima: The Northeast Vanguard

In Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), Pornthip Janyawipa led a 10-member delegation to the provincial Lawyers Council. They met with Pornthep Charoenphonganant, President of the Nakhon Ratchasima Lawyers Council, to file for group legal proceedings under Supreme Court Ruling 3307/2567.

Pornthip Janyawipa leading the Section 39 delegation at Nakhon Ratchasima Lawyers Council
Inside the Nakhon Ratchasima Lawyers Council office during proceedings
Nakhon Ratchasima Lawyers Council — Pornthip Janyawipa leads the northeast delegation
VIDEO: The Nakhon Ratchasima delegation in action
INTERVIEW: Pornthep Charoenphonganant, President of Nakhon Ratchasima Lawyers Council, on the case
OFFICIAL: Lawyers Council of Thailand formally confirms acceptance — 44+ cases filed at headquarters, 10+ at provincial branches

Si Sa Ket and Nationwide: No Province Left Behind

The same day, workers in Si Sa Ket, Nonthaburi, and more than a dozen other provinces walked into their local Lawyers Councils, making this the most geographically distributed pension rights action in Thai legal history.

Two Section 39 workers stand outside Si Sa Ket Provincial Court
Workers waiting at a provincial Lawyers Council office with documents
Worker submitting documents to a volunteer lawyer
Two workers holding the official complaint envelope
Worker consulting with a Lawyers Council volunteer attorney
Provincial actions — from Si Sa Ket to Nonthaburi to beyond, workers filed simultaneously across Thailand
ROUND 2: Workers from Ang Thong, Nonthaburi, Ratchaburi, and Bangkok — "Wherever you are, if you are Section 39, we are the same people."

Why This Matters: The Legal Anchor

The Injustice They Are Challenging

Workers who contributed to Section 33 (employer-employee, salary-based) for 15–20 years, then transitioned to Section 39 (self-employed, capped at ฿4,800/month), have their entire pension history averaged down to that ฿4,800 cap. The result: pensions as low as ฿1,032/month ($29 USD) after 23 combined years of contributions — 72% below the World Bank international poverty line.

The Legal Foundation: Supreme Court Ruling 3307/2567

Thailand's Supreme Court established in Ruling No. 3307 of 2567 BE (2024 CE) that using the Section 39 ceiling to dilute Section 33 entitlements constitutes an unlawful reduction of benefits. This ruling forms the legal backbone of every complaint filed on May 7.

What Comes Next

The Lawyers Council's commitment to form a fact-finding working group marks the first institutional acknowledgment that the movement's legal arguments have merit. The next steps involve bringing the case before the Senate Subcommittee and continuing social media pressure until the ministerial regulation is revoked.

"This is not the end. This is the beginning of reclaiming the dignity of people who worked their entire lives."

— Boon Arayapon, founder of "Khor Keun Mai Dai Khor Taan"
How to Join the Class Action

If you are a Section 39 contributor who believes your pension was unfairly calculated, you can still join. Visit any provincial Lawyers Council office (located inside every Provincial Court nationwide) and state: "I am requesting legal assistance for an unfair Section 39 pension — I wish to join the class action."

For full details and registration: boonarayapon.com/m39/