Bt5,000 handouts: ministry does not want massage, spa employees overlooked

[webfact]

Bt5,000 handouts: ministry does not want massage, spa employees overlooked

By THE NATION

 

 

The Public Health Ministry’s Department of Health Services Support will ask the Finance Ministry to consider Bt5,000 handouts for traditional massage and spa employees who have been affected by the government’s shutdown order and not covered by social security, director-general Dr Thares Karasnairaviwong said today (April 13).

 

“There are more than 120,000 employees registered with the department as service providers in health-related establishments and who are not under the social security scheme,” he said. “We will submit this list to the Finance Ministry to make sure they are not overlooked under the cash-handout campaign.”

 

The campaign offers eligible citizens, whose livelihoods have been impacted by the Covid-19 crisis, Bt5,000 a month for three months. To be eligible, candidates must be Thai nationals, aged over 18, be self-employed, freelance or a non-permanent employee and not covered under social security.

 

The first batch of handouts started on April 10, while the website for registering will stay open until no more people register.

 

“We want employees in the traditional massage and spa businesses to rest assured that the department has not abandoned you and will do everything it can to make sure those affected by the government’s shutdown will receive proper compensation,” Thares vowed.

 

Massage therapists are considered a profession with a high risk of contracting Covid-19 as it involves physical contact with customers. Massage parlours and spas were among the first businesses ordered to close to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30385894

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-04-13

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[overt2016]

My son is still wating for his 5,000.

[eeworldwide]

But since the number of cases in Thailand is continually dropping, and there have only been a handful of deaths, and nobody has it, then there really is no need for any of this stimulus, because the curfews can be lifted and everyone go back to work, right?

[fforest1]

From all reports I have read very very few people have received 5,000 baht so far....Maybe around 5% who have applied.... 

 

We dont want to leave anyone out except just about everyone who has asked for help....

Edited April 13, 2020 by fforest1

[rasmus5150]

11 minutes ago, fforest1 said:

From all reports I have read very very few people have received 5,000 baht so far....Maybe around 5% who have applied.... 

That's because roughly 50% of the population of Thailand tried to apply.

Everybody thought it was a free-for-all money buffet, and that's why it takes so long time to process the real applicants.

 

Corruption runs in all levels of Thai society.

[BritManToo]

3 minutes ago, rasmus5150 said:

That's because roughly 50% of the population of Thailand tried to apply.

Everybody thought it was a free-for-all money buffet, and that's why it takes so long time to process the real applicants.

 

Corruption runs in all levels of Thai society.

Why not just give each household that applies, the 5k.

It's not as if the government can't afford it.

Most Thai families can survive on that.

Edited April 13, 2020 by BritManToo

[greeneking]

21 minutes ago, fforest1 said:

From all reports I have read very very few people have received 5,000 baht so far....Maybe around 5% who have applied.... 

 

We dont want to leave anyone out except just about everyone who has asked for help....

More free publicity for how concerned they are, with little responsibility for having to make it true.

[humbug]

1 hour ago, eeworldwide said:

But since the number of cases in Thailand is continually dropping, and there have only been a handful of deaths, and nobody has it, then there really is no need for any of this stimulus, because the curfews can be lifted and everyone go back to work, right?

15-20 million people probably need it, not 2-3 million, many have been without income since early March, even if you open up, the faster the better now, as it will take months to regain the millions of lost jobs, people’s spending habits will take time, to spend so freely as before, exports will take time, tourists will be slower to arrive, leaving it till May to start opening up, is too long, and this idea of a second wave would only be meaningful, if a regime will look after its population through care and responsibility, like mass testing, as this crew couldn’t give a damn about people, let them go back to work, with some cash handouts so they can begin again

Edited April 13, 2020 by humbug

[kevin612]

So far only small amount of people received the 5000 baht, government needs to help the poors.

[soi3eddie]

4 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Why not just give each household that applies, the 5k.

It's not as if the government can't afford it.

Most Thai families can survive on that.

Except that not every "houshold" lives under the same roof. Although many may be on the same blue book they do not live at the same address unfortunately.

[Eibot]

4 hours ago, eeworldwide said:

But since the number of cases in Thailand is continually dropping, and there have only been a handful of deaths, and nobody has it, then there really is no need for any of this stimulus, because the curfews can be lifted and everyone go back to work, right?

Yes, and the last two weeks everything in Thailand was free...Nobody had to pay rent, electricity or food. Also, as soon as the lock down lifts, everything in Thailand is just dandy and everyone can go back to work as if we're not in the biggest financial drop since the past 100 years. Tourist will magically pop out of nowhere, factories will be running 100% for goods that they can magically export over closed borders. The airports will open, and it will be very busy of course. Consumers will spend big during this time.

 

You are completely right. Who needs that 5000 baht. We're opening up again. 

[BritManToo]

19 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

Except that not every "houshold" lives under the same roof. Although many may be on the same blue book they do not live at the same address unfortunately.

That's their problem, maybe time to go back to the family farm for a while.

At least most Thais have access to a family farm, not like us white folk who are totally screwed if we can't keep up the mortgage/rent payments.

(Fatman666 on ignore, I've no time for sad people)

Edited April 13, 2020 by BritManToo

[worgeordie]

My daughter was rejected,as they said she had a business, which she does not,

heard reports people rejected because last few numbers on ID were not correct,which

they were, and a teacher rejected ,because they said she was a farmer,I think a lot of

people have been denied, which is not good when they were expecting the 5 K which

they need ,because they cannot work,as their employer has closed the business on

order of the Government.

regards Worgeordie

[sjaak327]

5 hours ago, rasmus5150 said:

That's because roughly 50% of the population of Thailand tried to apply.

Everybody thought it was a free-for-all money buffet, and that's why it takes so long time to process the real applicants.

 

Corruption runs in all levels of Thai society.

Hmm, I doubt this to be the case, did you hear the latest explanation of the government, if someone applied for the scheme, but had a family member that registered as a farmer, they were automatically excluded. So the 5000 baht is apparently per family, and if you happen to work in a restaurant or bar or shopping mall far from your family, you better get back home to see if you can get a few crumbs. 

[samsensam]

5 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Why not just give each household that applies, the 5k.

It's not as if the government can't afford it.

Most Thai families can survive on that.

 

because some are in more need than others and some are not in need at all. why waste money on those who are not in difficulty? given the apparent lackadaisical approach to paying income and business tax it does not surprise me that some who didnt contribute, when they were legally obliged to, in the good times they cant complain if they dont match the criteria in bad times.

[sjaak327]

3 minutes ago, samsensam said:

 

because some are in more need than others and some are not in need at all. why waste money on those who are not in difficulty? given the apparent lackadaisical approach to paying income and business tax it does not surprise me that some who didnt contribute, when they were legally obliged to, in the good times they cant complain if they dont match the criteria in bad times.

What has contributing got to do with anything ? It should and could be very simple, If you can demonstrate that you lost your job due to the government's covid=19 closures, you should be granted the 5000 baht, at the end of the day, that is still a far cry from the 9000 baht at the minimum that many people would earn each month. How are people going to eat when their income has dropped to zero ? 

 

[Eibot]

Only 7% of the people applying received the money. I had a chat with a Thai lad working for the government, and he said that you're only eligible if you're registered as living in Bangkok. Don't know if this is true, or they just decided to give it too a small group of random people. 

 

Meanwhile, I'm supporting 4 family members, who all had legitimate jobs (hotels, Tourist van driver, Marketstall BKK) who lost their job. Obviously their application was denied with some kind of vague reason. 

[eeworldwide]

Can anyone post a link to the deal for the electricity payment scheme - ie - delaying payment for 6 months?

 

Thanks in advance.

[sjaak327]

17 minutes ago, Eibot said:

Only 7% of the people applying received the money. I had a chat with a Thai lad working for the government, and he said that you're only eligible if you're registered as living in Bangkok. Don't know if this is true, or they just decided to give it too a small group of random people. 

 

Meanwhile, I'm supporting 4 family members, who all had legitimate jobs (hotels, Tourist van driver, Marketstall BKK) who lost their job. Obviously their application was denied with some kind of vague reason. 

So sad, what utter nonsense.

[torturedsole]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

At least most Thais have access to a family farm

Thailand isn't The Waltons for most families.  That might be true in very rural areas but not true for the vast majority of the population.  

[rbkk]

18 minutes ago, eeworldwide said:

Can anyone post a link to the deal for the electricity payment scheme - ie - delaying payment for 6 months?

 

Thanks in advance.

I'm not aware of any link to a deal. I thought it was just a defered payment or payment holiday i.e. Due by date extension? I might be off the mark here. Don't quote me.

[eeworldwide]

2 minutes ago, rbkk said:

I'm not aware of any link to a deal. I thought it was just a defered payment or payment holiday i.e. Due by date extension? I might be off the mark here. Don't quote me.

Yes - i think you're probably right. But who does it apply to? I guess what I mean is - I'd like a link to the information. ????

[rbkk]

55 minutes ago, sjaak327 said:

Hmm, I doubt this to be the case, did you hear the latest explanation of the government, if someone applied for the scheme, but had a family member that registered as a farmer, they were automatically excluded. So the 5000 baht is apparently per family, and if you happen to work in a restaurant or bar or shopping mall far from your family, you better get back home to see if you can get a few crumbs. 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1159205-government-finalising-cash-handouts-to-farmers/  The 5,000 baht isn't per family. This next Farmer Scheme appears to be for families. How many farmers in Thailand? Is it 9 or 13 million? I'm guessing a lot of people went to bed hungry tonight.

[BritManToo]

7 hours ago, samsensam said:

 

because some are in more need than others and some are not in need at all. why waste money on those who are not in difficulty? given the apparent lackadaisical approach to paying income and business tax it does not surprise me that some who didnt contribute, when they were legally obliged to, in the good times they cant complain if they dont match the criteria in bad times.

Less than 20% of the Thai population have ever paid income tax.

So you think 80% of the population should starve?

[rvaviator]

7 hours ago, worgeordie said:

My daughter was rejected,as they said she had a business, which she does not,

heard reports people rejected because last few numbers on ID were not correct,which

they were, and a teacher rejected ,because they said she was a farmer,I think a lot of

people have been denied, which is not good when they were expecting the 5 K which

they need ,because they cannot work,as their employer has closed the business on

order of the Government.

regards Worgeordie

Same experience here ... A factory worker friend of my GF was told he was a farmer, rejected ......  There is a lot of discontent at grass root level about this ....

[sitti]

17 hours ago, eeworldwide said:

But since the number of cases in Thailand is continually dropping, and there have only been a handful of deaths, and nobody has it, then there really is no need for any of this stimulus, because the curfews can be lifted and everyone go back to work, right?

Damages are already done. Businesses won't be the same all around the world for months at least.

[bluedoc]

17 hours ago, eeworldwide said:

But since the number of cases in Thailand is continually dropping, and there have only been a handful of deaths, and nobody has it, then there really is no need for any of this stimulus, because the curfews can be lifted and everyone go back to work, right?

Yes, absolutely right, I wondered why a country of 60 million people and only 2,500 who have contracted the virus, approx 1,200 active cases, 1,200 recovered have banned travel, closed airports, stopped people from buying alcohol. Is someone not telling us what is going on.????

[rbkk]

5 hours ago, rvaviator said:

Same experience here ... A factory worker friend of my GF was told he was a farmer, rejected ......  There is a lot of discontent at grass root level about this ....

'If the registrant is a farmer or has family members who are farmers, the person is not qualified to receive the 5,000-baht monthly cash handout. However, measures to help farmers will be launched soon.'       I'm taking a wild guess here that some farmers may have been using family members names too claim extra subsidies over the years. Although many have been rejected from the 5,000 baht Scheme, there is a new Farmers Scheme on the way......