Group calls for govt pension for all senior citizens

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Group calls for govt pension for all senior citizens

By Pratch Rujivanarom 
The Nation

 

 

THAILAND needs to provide a pension to all its senior citizens to mitigate the impacts of two major problems – an ageing society and economic disparity – welfare campaigners urged.
 

The We Fair Network yesterday said at a press conference in Bangkok that the government must provide universal pension of not less than Bt3,000 per month to all senior citizens, to combat the problems of poverty and severe economic disparity in Thai society.

 

The network’s representative, Sureerat Threemanka, highlighted that Thailand was fast becoming an aged society and at the same time the country is ranked as having the highest economic disparity rate in the world. He said the current administration had done nothing to improve the situation.

 

Sureerat said the government not only lacked a clear strategy to tackle the wide wealth gap and poverty, but it also had been making these social issues more serious due to many of the government’s harmful policies. These had resulted in land grabbing, lack of public participation in local natural resources management and insufficient public welfare.

 

“We ask the political parties taking part in the upcoming election to recognise and comply with our demand to sustainably tackle the economic disparity and poverty problems by providing a universal pension at a rate no less than the poverty line of Bt3,000 per month so as to provide monthly income assurance to all retirees,” she proposed.

 

“We believe that the universal pension will relieve the troubles of poverty in an ageing society. However, this policy needs radical reforms in tax collection, resource distribution, and national budget management to ensure efficient welfare for all citizens.”

 

The network highlighted in the statement that the current pension is a clear example of economic and social disparity in Thai society. A minority group of people, who serve as civil servants, are getting the highest pension from the government when they retire, while those who work in the private sector or are self-employed are getting a significantly smaller pension amount from the government; they have to rely almost entirely on their own savings.

 

Currently, the government provides a monthly allowance for senior citizens aged 60 years and above of Bt600 to Bt1,000 per month.

 

The network added that its ultimate demand is to create universal welfare for all to ensure that everyone will have income assurance at every stage of their life. This could be achieved by adjusting wealth distribution, by not concentrating on a minority population group.

 

“Our country has sufficient resources for all of us; we just need fair distribution of resources to ensure that everyone gets equal benefits from our country’s wealth,” the statement read.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30361946

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-10

[pegman]

Every country that considers itself civilized should provide old age pensions. 

[LazySlipper]

Unfortunately even though it should, it won't happen.

The only way to pay for this will be for the corrupt officials to renounce their sources of income and funnel them into this program. Otherwise-- pipe dream.

[Lacessit]

Many rural Thais would be delirious with joy if they were getting 3000 baht/month as a pension. Some don't get that much when they are working.

Can't see it happening in the current political system. It would be vote-buying on a grand scale if it did.

[garyk]

2 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Many rural Thais would be delirious with joy if they were getting 3000 baht/month as a pension. Some don't get that much when they are working.

Can't see it happening in the current political system. It would be vote-buying on a grand scale if it did.

I have come to the conclusion, after spending some time here on TV.  90-95% Expats don't know this! 

Actually I have come to the conclusion most expats don't know what is going on period. In a state of denial and cannot see past their front door. 

 

[newnative]

   Likely could easily be funded through a modest real estate tax.

[Enoon]

 

What they want exists in a parallel universe.

 

One in which the ideals of the 1932 Revolution were not shut down by a militaristic, authoritarian, conservative, reactionary, self serving, wealth concentrating, caste based oligarchy.

 

The re-distribution of wealth required (to institute an equitable, individual contribution based system) is so vast that it now requires the sort of socio-economic reconstruction that could only be achieved after an equally vast.........demolition.

 

Do those people know that?

 

Or do they actually expect the "good people" to do it for them?

 

 

 

 

 

[NCC1701A]

 

[PatOngo]

4 hours ago, garyk said:

I have come to the conclusion, after spending some time here on TV.  90-95% Expats don't know this! 

Actually I have come to the conclusion most expats don't know what is going on period. In a state of denial and cannot see past their front door. 

 

With your worldly knowledge, please explain to us ignorant expats just what IS going on!

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, PatOngo said:

With your worldly knowledge, please explain to us ignorant expats just what IS going on!

Seconds out of the ring, please.

[colinneil]

7 hours ago, garyk said:

I have come to the conclusion, after spending some time here on TV.  90-95% Expats don't know this! 

Actually I have come to the conclusion most expats don't know what is going on period. In a state of denial and cannot see past their front door. 

 

Can you explain exactly what you mean to me, an old expat who cannot see what is happening anywhere outside my gate.

[JulesMad]

15 hours ago, pegman said:

Every country that considers itself civilized should provide old age pensions. 

Spot on! Thailand should provide old age pensions; the next question is who is going to pay for that...
So, it is not going to happen ????

[Myran]

Are they equally eager to start paying tax on their incomes? Free money sounds great; regretfully, there's no such thing.

[kannot]

yeah free  money for everyone , everyone of those lazy fekkers that did  bugger  all to contribute to society......................sheesh  no wonder  people are  bone idle these  days

[kannot]

14 hours ago, garyk said:

I have come to the conclusion, after spending some time here on TV.  90-95% Expats don't know this! 

Actually I have come to the conclusion most expats don't know what is going on period. In a state of denial and cannot see past their front door. 

 

you have a front door????............you  lucky barsteward

[kannot]

15 hours ago, pegman said:

Every country that considers itself civilized should provide old age pensions. 

for free??????

[DJ54]

Do all thai who reach 60 get Retirement? Or is there requirements

like must have worked etc. My father In law is 59. He’s was a pro or semi pro kick boxer and he limps most the time. As many Thai are 

 

Told the wife to see if there is some type of disability he could 

get for some type of treatment..