Bangkok street food gets a taste as govt unveils 12 progressive policies

By Wichit Chaitrong
The Nation

 

Nation photo

 

The government has listed improving people’s living standards among 12 priorities in a formal policy statement.

 

The policy statement is to be debated in Parliament on July 25-26.

 

The government also said it would reduce obstacles blocking people from earning a decent living and would utilise digital technology to manage public transportation. 

 

It said existing regulations that curb Bangkok’s street vendors would be reviewed so that the city could retain its global reputation for exciting street food while at the same time ensuring cleanliness and orderliness.

 

This appears to reverse the stance adopted by the previous junta-backed government, which resulted in several popular street-food areas in the capital being cleared of vendors, the stated aim being to free crowded footpaths for commuters. 

 

Critics said the move hurt small-scale tradesmen and would cost the Thai economy several billion baht a year, as well as ruining Bangkok’s reputation as a top destination for street food.

 

The government has also vowed to address swelling household  debt to revolving village funds, school tuition funds and loan sharks. 

 

The move could be in response to high household debt in Thailand, which has slowed domestic consumption even as the global economy struggles to recover. 

 

Online financial fraud will also be urgently addressed, the government said.

 

It said it would review the taxation system, but offered no further signal about an election campaign promise to lower personal income tax. 

 

Poor farmers are promised access to land and low-income people access to mortgage loans so they can buy houses. 

 

Small-scale fishing operations would get some relief from strict rules imposed by the previous government, it said, though international fishing standards would be maintained.

 

State welfare coverage will be expanded to include support for pregnant mothers, infants and young students whose families are struggling financially.

 

Service quality will become more standardised among the universal public health scheme, social security for workers and healthcare for state officials.

 

The government pledges to more promptly inject money into the economy following a series of annual budget delays. 

 

It will accelerate the procedure for fiscal 2020, delayed due to tardiness in forming the new government.

 

It promises to increase the minimum wage, but stops short of committing to a hike beyond Bt400 as promised during the campaign by the Phalang Pracharat Party, which leads the coalition government.

 

In terms of education reform, the government promises to prepare citizens for the 21st century by promoting science and technology studies, such as introducing computer-coding courses in primary schools.

 

It promises to initiate public hearings on constitutional changes, given that the current charter, written by the military, has been called undemocratic and discouraging of amendments that would enshrine basic freedoms.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30373336

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-07-22

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Start to prepare to cities first to the 21st century standards, that other countries already have done a long time ago. Rebuild your sewers and the system that transport the wastewater to cleaning installations, so that a city does not smell like shit everywhere!

I also suggest  the PM should also takes some computer-coding courses himself, so that he knows what he's talking about before introducing it in Primary schools! ????

Stop these vendors with thier abuse of plastic bags and foam bowls,and pouring grease down the sewer pipes .

3 hours ago, webfact said:

State welfare coverage will be expanded to include support for pregnant mothers, infants and young students whose families are struggling financially.

Is this the same sort of state welfare which was given to the destitute and disabled which was stolen by the government people paid to administer it's distribution?

Thai governments spout all this populist nonsense every time they think their unpopular with public.

Any token money that is allocated for social welfare or fixing school roofs etc will disappear into the pockets of greedy corrupt  officials.

It always does.

Expect to see more condo tower projects in the near future.

1 hour ago, mok199 said:

Stop these vendors with thier abuse of plastic bags and foam bowls,and pouring grease down the sewer pipes .

Actually they use the gutters for pouring waste, liquid food and washing up water

5 hours ago, webfact said:

while at the same time ensuring cleanliness and orderliness.

There's the rub.

regards Worgeordie

5 hours ago, webfact said:

This appears to reverse the stance adopted by the previous junta-backed government, which resulted in several popular street-food areas in the capital being cleared of vendors, the stated aim being to free crowded footpaths for commuters. 

As apposed to current junta based government.   Mind numbing. 

Thailand .  and it's fall !!! 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

In terms of education reform, the government promises to prepare citizens for the 21st century by promoting science and technology studies, such as introducing computer-coding courses in primary schools.

Education reform..lets start with the basics, like making sure the kids receive some decent lunch, instead of money going down the pockets of the corrupt. Before we start computer coding.

"digital technology to manage public transportation"

How about starting with streamlining the MRT and BTS to both use the same electronic payment media. Rabbit works on BTS but not on MRT - just saying.

As far as the street food is concerned; if they keep on adding more MSG and sugar to the (previously delightful) food then some customers (like me) won't buy it anymore while others will die of diabetes, obesity or cardiac arrest ......... 

So much talk, so little action

6 hours ago, webfact said:

street food while at the same time ensuring cleanliness and orderliness.

Never happened before, after vendors go home just look at the trash bags scattered everywhere with food spilling out everywhere, cooking oil poured straight down the nearest drain, pavements blocked by tables & chairs, streets filled with with pedestrians shared by vehicles trying to pass.

Cleanliness & orderliness was never achieved before which is what led to them being cleared away.

 

Force them into “Hawker Centres” ala Singapore with proper sanitation.

5 hours ago, RotMahKid said:

Start to prepare to cities first to the 21st century standards, that other countries already have done a long time ago. Rebuild your sewers and the system that transport the wastewater to cleaning installations, so that a city does not smell like shit everywhere!

I also suggest  the PM should also takes some computer-coding courses himself, so that he knows what he's talking about before introducing it in Primary schools! ????

The 21st century started on the 1st of January 2001 ,almost 20 years ago,so now a good time to prepare the cities for 21st century standards, wow maybe too soon?!?!

The best way to improve people’s living standards, would be to get rid of corruption and share the cake with the people. No better way, than to start from the top down.

1 hour ago, Date Masamune said:

Force them into “Hawker Centres” ala Singapore with proper sanitation.

Hawker Centers cost $$ to build.   

That is why Singapore is so much more expensive.  

That is why I can't afford to go there. 

Undoing the wrongs already done by the previous junta and hoping the public fall for their promises by the new junta I mean democratic junta oh dear democratic government ! back to square one, food vendors a fine example clear the streets, OK now one of our achievements we are going to let you back on the streets

5 hours ago, mok199 said:

Stop these vendors with thier abuse of plastic bags and foam bowls,and pouring grease down the sewer pipes .

What a load of twaddle. Just go to the Golden Arches restaurants at any part of the western world. They are far more injurious to the environment mate. What some bright spark should do is develop look alike plastic that disintegrates in a few weeks.Can't believe with all the scientific brains around no one has done so. Basically it's called paper.

Better promote access to english language by making of english a 2nd official language in Thailand in order to make Thai people more accessible to Asean countries and more communicative to foreigners vice-versa. 

1 hour ago, Johnnyngai said:

Hawker Centers cost $$ to build.   

Not really. Basically a concrete slab with sticks and a roof, water pipes, electricity and wastewater. It's the rents that the landlords would extort from the hawkers. Welcome to Thailaaan!

2 hours ago, Date Masamune said:

Force them into “Hawker Centres” ala Singapore with proper sanitation.

When Singapore decided it was the right time to improve the country the first thing they did was - as far as possible - get rid of corruption in high places with dire consequences for those that didn't abide by the rules!

Not going to happen here is it! so don't look for to many improvements unless someone in a "high" place is getting rich!

 

2 hours ago, Date Masamune said:

Force them into “Hawker Centres” ala Singapore with proper sanitation.

It wouldn't really be "street food" if they were organized into centers. That's called a market. 

2 hours ago, Date Masamune said:

Force them into “Hawker Centres” ala Singapore with proper sanitation.

Gentrification is gentrification. Singapore is a cultural bore, keep street food the way it is I'd say - on the street

 

I've never gotten sick from these 'unsanitory food stalls'

6 hours ago, mok199 said:

Stop these vendors with thier abuse of plastic bags and foam bowls,and pouring grease down the sewer pipes .

No, do not stop this practice. The rats slip on the grease and fall into the foam bowls which float out with the tide of other rubbish to the sea and drown!

Give the rats the slip....says I.

2 hours ago, Date Masamune said:

Force them into “Hawker Centres” ala Singapore with proper sanitation.

The last thing Thailand needs is sterile Singapore-style hawker centers.

 

With the exception of a few, most hawker centers in Singapore are full of inconsiderate, uncultured and uncivilized plebs,

who reserve seats with tissue packets/business cards, and then have the nerve to call Singapore a first-world city.

 

1 hour ago, Melbun said:

What a load of twaddle. Just go to the Golden Arches restaurants at any part of the western world. They are far more injurious to the environment mate. What some bright spark should do is develop look alike plastic that disintegrates in a few weeks.Can't believe with all the scientific brains around no one has done so. Basically it's called paper.

Twaddle? Maybe.

 

Btw, let us know when you have invented the magic plastic.

Look you only have to open your eyes to see the destruction caused in Thailand from the "Police" and "Government" you do NOT require a hi-powered PC to see that "Tourism" has dropped and shops all along Sukhumvit are shutting up and lets be frank the HIGH baht does not help anyone

 

23 minutes ago, varun said:

With the exception of a few, most hawker centers in Singapore are full of inconsiderate, uncultured and uncivilized plebs,

who reserve seats with tissue packets/business cards, and then have the nerve to call Singapore a first-world city.

That tissue system works very well, how else are you supposed to make sure you got a seat when you come back with your food tray?

 

Of course in here it wouldn't work as Somchai/Nok would just park their arse on where ever, reserved or not. One of the many reasons I don't go to food courts.

It wouldn't really be "street food" if they were organized into centers. That's called a market. 

Whatever it’s called we can’t have pavements, footpaths and sidewalks blocked anymore by illegal vendors. Washing disused in buckets. No toilets. Dropping food everywhere to attract vermin. A think of the past. Bangkok is not the third world. The adventure of “street food” best left to other countries.