TDRI urges all-out efforts to contain Covid-19, urgent cash handouts to low-income earners

[webfact]

TDRI urges all-out efforts to contain Covid-19, urgent cash handouts to low-income earners 

By The Nation

 

A large number of Thai labourers and migrants leave Bangkok for their hometowns, as many businesses in the capital temporarily shut down.

 

The government must quickly mobilise national resources to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and urgently and adequately provide financial support to low-income groups affected by the impact of the pandemic. Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), an independent think-tank, urged the government to step up efforts both to contain the virus and help the poor.

 

The research house said the government has to give priority to prevent the spread of the virus, deploying sufficient resources to deal with the pressing issue. The government has to ensure efficiency of screening, monitoring and quarantine of those who could spread the disease as they travel across the country now. 

 

Patients have to be given proper treatment. Overtime payments, life insurance and health insurance coverage must be offered to medical personnel. 

 

“The government should not worry about short-term fiscal position or economic growth in the short-run, but instead give top priority to public health,” said the research house.

 

It warned that given the rising number of new Covid-19 cases, Thailand may soon enter a crisis situation where the country's health infrastructure may not be able to handle the outbreak and potentially lead to loss of many lives, as has happened in some countries.

 

The TDRI urged the government to provide adequate and timely support for low income and unemployed people. The government plans to extend the coverage of Social Security Fund to include unemployment caused by communicable disease, but that is not sufficient, said TDRI. It suggested that the government also look after those who currently are not covered by the fund. For example, taxi drivers account for 70 per cent of the informal labour force, said TDRI.

 

Every Thai family should be given cash handouts by the government. For example, a family with one or two members should get Bt1,500 per month for three months, those with three to four members Bt2,500 per month, and Bt500 for each extra member.

 

The Finance Ministry should review the database of its welfare card programme by cutting out families with higher income such as owners of land and property worth more than Bt3 million, those saving more than Bt100,000 per annum or those having salary above Bt15,000 for each member of the family. So the eligible families could be estimated to be about six to seven million, TDRI said.

 

The current Finance Ministry database is not accurate as it leaves out a large number of low-income earners estimated to be five to six million, or about 64 per cent of total low-income earners, TDRI noted.

 

The government is urged to support small and mid-sized businesses throuh rent assistance or partial labour cost in order to prevent layoffs.

 

The government should also cancel subsidies on tap water and electricity bills because such a support is not benefiting the right targets and even rich families are able to avail of the subsidies.

 

The government should run business in crisis mode not business as usual and it should not get complacent if new cases of infections decrease.

 

The government should communicate with the public more efficiently in order to get full cooperation from them, the research house added.

 

Meanwhile, the Cabinet is expected to consider cash handout measures at Tuesday’s (March 24) meeting.

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-24

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[johng]

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

has to give priority to prevent the spread of the virus,

Yet they shut down Bangkok and let everyone and his dog travel home to the provinces with presents for their elderly relatives !

[Grumpy John]

The government don't seem to be interested in putting the hardest hit people first.  I am thinking that I can't even state X, Y & Z are band aid solutions because what ever they are doing in government doesn't rate as a band aid solution because there are no solutions coming forth. It's like they don't see a problem so their is no need for a solution.   The attitude is 'Bugggar you Jack,  I am alright!'

[sukhumvitneon]

4 minutes ago, Grumpy John said:

The government don't seem to be interested in putting the hardest hit people first.  I am thinking that I can't even state X, Y & Z are band aid solutions because what ever they are doing in government doesn't rate as a band aid solution because there are no solutions coming forth. It's like they don't see a problem so their is no need for a solution.   The attitude is 'Bugggar you Jack,  I am alright!'

The US government's attitude is almost exactly the same

[trainman34014]

Solly; too busy still sharing out proceeds of massive Mask sales.   Anything left over go to 'Torpedo' fund !

[Chazar]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Bt1,500 per month for three months,

it  might  pay  their  phone  bill

[connda]

Considering the government has shut down all productive commerce (although government is still open and government workers still making money) as of now the majority of Thais are no longer "low paid workers" and are now unemployed and receiving no pay..  
So they hand out ฿1000 to workers crushed by the decision to shut-down Thailand and somehow that's going to put a band-aide on the problem.  
This neo-feudalism will soon percolate into general public unrest once the now isolated, quarantined, and unemployed public begin to get hungry but can't afford to eat.  The seeds of discontent and class warfare have just been sown in the fertile grounds of quasi-martial law.  But hey - 1000 THB will make it all better, and if it doesn't, make it 2000 THB.  All is well.  ????

[johng]

3 minutes ago, connda said:

But hey - 1000 THB will make it all better, and if it doesn't, make it 2000 THB.  All is well. 

I just saw on the Thai "news"  it will be 5000 baht per month.

[thequietman]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Every Thai family should be given cash handouts by the government. For example, a family with one or two members should get Bt1,500 per month for three months, those with three to four members Bt2,500 per month, and Bt500 for each extra member.

Setting the scene for the perfect crime. Soooo many opportunities for skimming here. Fantastic idea. ????

[connda]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Every Thai family should be given cash handouts by the government. For example, a family with one or two members should get Bt1,500 per month for three months, those with three to four members Bt2,500 per month, and Bt500 for each extra member.

In the meanwhile, evil <da*m> farang are now supporting their Thai families who are now out of work and no longer earning money, and in-between reporting to immigration every 90 days and justifying why they should be allow to remain in Thailand at all once a year, every year, ad-infinitum.  Meanwhile the government plans to hand out peanuts... 

[Ventenio]

Thailand is not poor.  I think it should be 10,000 per household, or even 10,000 a person.  If this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing (probably not), this 10,000 will help with goodwill for decades.   In America, most people will get like 40,000 baht and it's definitely not enough.  I don't know why they can't just put 10,000 in everyone's bank account. OK, you might mess up a few million baht, but it will save lives.  

 

i feel a little bad for the backpacker teachers who get used by the system and it usually takes them 6-months to save money.  a guess a good life lesson on saving cash.  99% of them come over with maybe 10,000 baht in savings as a buffer.  

[Orton Rd]

Not sure how the registration will work, Mrs said trying to register for the electricity deposit starting today was impossible online, told her to try at 3AM/