webfact 150392 Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 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 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegman 9187 Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 Every country that considers itself civilized should provide old age pensions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LazySlipper 2365 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 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. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacessit 31669 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 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. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyk 2643 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 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. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
newnative 8530 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 Likely could easily be funded through a modest real estate tax. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enoon 9142 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 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? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCC1701A 57771 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatOngo 50413 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 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! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacessit 31669 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 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. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinneil 84376 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 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. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesMad 1400 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 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 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myran 2658 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 Are they equally eager to start paying tax on their incomes? Free money sounds great; regretfully, there's no such thing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannot 16911 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 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 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannot 16911 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 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 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannot 16911 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 15 hours ago, pegman said: Every country that considers itself civilized should provide old age pensions. for free?????? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ54 1291 Posted January 10, 2019 Share Posted January 10, 2019 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.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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