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Of that amount, Bt5.78 billion derived from interest income from bonds and bank deposits and the rest from dividends and capital gains, the SSF said in a statement.

The SSF recorded a 3.82-percent investment return for the 12 months ending March 31 if measured according to the marktomarket method and 0.13 per cent if measured by standards requiring bonds held to maturity to be recorded at cost.

The SSF had assets of Bt588.96 billion as of March 31, Bt444.84 billion of which were net contributions from employees, employers and the government, and the rest was cumulative investment returns.

The fund provides benefits to 9 million employees across the country.

The fund is expected to earn Bt20 billion from investment this year.

The SSF admits it is difficult to boost investment income amid the present atmosphere. Amid the global economic crisis, investors around the world are still putting money into safe havens, including government bonds, and this pushes market interest rates and bond yields to record lows.

"These can put pressure on the SSF's interest income from bank deposits and government bonds, as well as dividend income from stocks," the statement said.

As much as 84 per cent of its assets are now allocated in highly secured assets, including government bonds, state-enterprise bonds guaranteed by the Finance Ministry, bank deposits and investmentgrade corporate bonds.

The remaining 16 per cent of the portfolio is invested in risky assets, including other debt instruments, property funds, foreign-investment funds and equities.