Beggars will need licenses under a new begging law

[rooster59]

Beggars will need licenses under a new begging law

BANGKOK: Beggars will have to register with the authorities and to be issued with special ID cards under a new law to regulate begging which passed the final reading of the National Legislative Assembly on Friday.

Under the new law, beggars will have to register at district offices after which they will be issued with ID cards which will enable them to beg legally without threat of arrests.

Begging is defined as an act inducing others to feel sympathetic with the beggars and giving them money. It does not cover busking or street performances by street artists.

The law also introduces penalties against people who force, intimidate or encourage others to beg for their benefits.

After the passage of the new begging law, a panel will draw up regulations governing begging within 90 days and submit them to the minister of social development and human security for consideration.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/153709

-- Thai PBS 2016-03-05

[dcnx]

And what of the trafficked beggars? Their sad situation legalized by the Thai government?

Perhaps the government should first figure out if they are begging of their own free will or not, otherwise, this will turn into a brothel like situation where their handlers will legally put them on the streets, which in turn will cause more people to be trafficked and turned into beggars.

May I be the first to say this is a horrible idea. Help them, don't enable them.

[MaxLee]

[shirtless]

The Thai government sees begging as a growth industry, thanks to their many stupid policies.

[canathai8]

I read this post because without God's grace - we're all there

[AlexRRR]

What a stupid idea, the money they spend on getting the policy up and running could be spent on some sort of cottage industry to employ them.

[leeneeds]

Now instead of the tuk tuk drivers taking you on a ride to jewellery shops or clothes shops as a tourist newbie, beggars will be asking tourists to pay the fee to register them for the ID card,

How many ID cards do you have to make you an honest beggar

[phoenixdoglover]

Why? What is the purpose of having a beggar card? Who will be denied a card; people who do not qualify for the job of beggar? What will be the next steps; government campaigns to promote helping only registered beggars?

It beggars belief.

[kotsak]

A new hub in the making?

[JAG]

And what of the trafficked beggars? Their sad situation legalized by the Thai government?

Perhaps the government should first figure out if they are begging of their own free will or not, otherwise, this will turn into a brothel like situation where their handlers will legally put them on the streets, which in turn will cause more people to be trafficked and turned into beggars.

May I be the first to say this is a horrible idea. Help them, don't enable them.

Oh I'm sure that there will be an innovative informal channel by which one can, providing you contribute towards administrative costs, obtain the appropriate documentation on behalf of the dozen Cambodian women and children in the back of one's pick up.

I wonder whether arrangements will be made with khaki, brown or green uniforms?

[jaywalker]

That's exactly what I was going to say!

[berybert]

Makes you wonder how much a begging license is going to cost and how much the weekly costs will be.

[ratcatcher]

Makes you wonder how much a begging license is going to cost and how much the weekly costs will be.

Beggared if I know!

[ChrisY1]

Yet the rich can get away with driving a car without a licence in many instances...........but the poor must be attacked all the time!

[mike324]

yes, lets promote this new and growing industry!

[Samaaw]

As this seems to be maybe the way forward as an employment - begging. Maybe I can apply for a work visa and do some begging also?

[Always18]

Makes you wonder how much a begging license is going to cost and how much the weekly costs will be.

....and whether an "aspiring beggar" will be allowed to beg for the money needed to become a "licensed beggar"...............

[mesterm]

Yet the rich can get away with driving a car without a licence in many instances...........but the poor must be attacked all the time!

Or any other offence.

[wow64]

Now that begging is legal and a growing industry it should also be taxed.

Sent from my c64

[terminatorchiangmai]

Makes you wonder how much a begging license is going to cost and how much the weekly costs will be.

And how much they get fined for not filling in their annual tax forms.

[Tchooptip]

Under the new law, beggars will have to register at district offices after which they will be issued with ID cards which will enable them to beg legally without threat of arrests, thieves will also have to register at district offices after which they will be issued with ID cards which will enable them to thieve legally without threat of arrests and finally , hookers will have to register also at the same district offices after which they will be issued with ID cards which will enable them to prostitute legally without condoms.

[gandalf12]

Wouldn't it be better for the government to make situations were begging is not necessary? everyone has a value that they can bring to a job if they ar put in the right job. The idea of providing ID cards for begging is disgraceful.

[jaywalker]

Makes you wonder how much a begging license is going to cost and how much the weekly costs will be.

And how much they get fined for not filling in their annual tax forms.

They'll issue permits to screw your old lady next.

[SABloke]

Thailand has figured hownto achieve 100% employment figures.

[klauskunkel]

The government needs to issue such a license to itself:

begging for understanding about the fishing industry

begging for more time to comply with airline regulations

begging for investments on new rail project

...

[tbthailand]

don't fool youselves.

This law is so they can sweep the streets of poor people "without a license".

In a land with no safety net, this is the kind of uncompassionate/moronic laws that get passed by unelected hi-so's.

It's disgusting.

[TheCruncher]

Is it April 1st already?

[Time Traveller]

Failure as a society when begging becomes a government endorsed occupation. But on the bright side there will be opportunities for clever businessmen within the new regulated begging industry. And begging is not on the list of protected industries under the foreign business act!

[MyFriend You]

My feelings exactly, where else in the World is it legal to Beg on the streets and be issued an ID card to do so, I've lived in 44 countries and never have I herd of this as an occupation.

[Jimbo2014]

If only the time, effort and money spent on this rediculous scheme could have been put to some use to help beggars rather than create a bureaucratic nightmare for them (likely with tea money)