Saw this on TOC Thai English language news yesterday morning - Amazing Thailand!

The Human Security and Social Development Ministry of the Thai government has proposed a bill that sets conditions for people who want to be beggars.

They must provide proof they are underprivileged, disabled, homeless or elderly without children to care for them. Begging will be a reserved occupation, exclusively for Thais who must carry their ID cards.

Those intending to follow the profession of beggar will have to register with their local administration departments for approval and to obtain a work permit.

Anyone who forces others into begging will be charged with commiting a criminal act

The legislation is aimed to get rid of the large number of foreign beggars in the country and will be passed before the government for approval

If the bill becomes law, it will replace the 1941 Begging Control Act

This is hard hitting legislation that will affect mostly young tourists from the UK begging for food in the lower Sukhumvit area.

Sounds like some Monty Python spoof.

Isn't it required that you have a degree in begging.

actually for a pop of 68 million people there isnt a whole of of beggars that i see. i see more in san francisco!

Saw this on TOC Thai English language news yesterday morning - Amazing Thailand!

The Human Security and Social Development Ministry of the Thai government has proposed a bill that sets conditions for people who want to be beggars.

They must provide proof they are underprivileged, disabled, homeless or elderly without children to care for them. Begging will be a reserved occupation, exclusively for Thais who must carry their ID cards.

Those intending to follow the profession of beggar will have to register with their local administration departments for approval and to obtain a work permit.

Anyone who forces others into begging will be charged with commiting a criminal act

The legislation is aimed to get rid of the large number of foreign beggars in the country and will be passed before the government for approval

If the bill becomes law, it will replace the 1941 Begging Control Act

Only in Thailand.... ......If the "occupation" is reserved for Thai's only, why would someone need a work permit then ??

Quite sure Monty Python couldnt top this...

Saw this on TOC Thai English language news yesterday morning - Amazing Thailand!

The Human Security and Social Development Ministry of the Thai government has proposed a bill that sets conditions for people who want to be beggars.

They must provide proof they are underprivileged, disabled, homeless or elderly without children to care for them. Begging will be a reserved occupation, exclusively for Thais who must carry their ID cards.

Those intending to follow the profession of beggar will have to register with their local administration departments for approval and to obtain a work permit.

Anyone who forces others into begging will be charged with commiting a criminal act

The legislation is aimed to get rid of the large number of foreign beggars in the country and will be passed before the government for approval

If the bill becomes law, it will replace the 1941 Begging Control Act

I put this in one of the breaking news threads (it was posted on Thai Crisis yesterday). I called it one of the funniest things I have ever seen. It is funny. However, when I went to share this "joke" with one of my friends today (whose work gets posted on other websites), I was set straight. It seems that this is aimed directly at a Cambodian "mafia" that brings into Bangkok indigent people from Cambodia and then takes the majority of their money.

actually for a pop of 68 million people there isnt a whole of of beggars that i see. i see more in san francisco!

Panhandlers in Vancouver beat 'Frisco, anyday.

I do see some in Bangers, mainly on overbridges, mother and baby.