Low-income earners to receive social welfare benefits

[webfact]

Low-income earners to receive social welfare benefits

BANGKOK, 15 June 2016 (NNT) - The Cabinet has endorsed a proposal by the Ministry of Finance to allow low-income earners to apply for a social welfare program from June 15 to August 15.

According to Government Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, only those age 18 and older and earning less than 100,000 baht a year are eligible for the program.

Those eligible can apply for social welfare at branches of the Government Savings Bank, Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, and Krung Thai Bank. The program was proposed by the Ministry of Finance to provide social welfare benefits to people with low income.

The Cabinet also approved the Ministry of Commerce’s project, valued at 6.7 billion baht, to help agricultural organizations increase the value of rice. Under the project, each agricultural organizations will be able to seek a maximum loan of 300 million baht.


-- NNT 2016-06-15

[Winniedapu]

Pretty desperate to come up with something that'll make the Thai public love them, it's quite touching in a way. Of course this initiative will never come to fruition and it'll be forgotten about in a couple of weeks, that's a given. It's the Thai way...

Winnie

Edited June 15, 2016 by Winniedapu

[The Old Bull]

How will they verify peoples income when most low income transactions are made in cash ? No paper trail gives the government ample weaseling room to avoid making payments.

[The stuttering parrot]

Let the rorts begin!

Talk about lunatics running the asylum.

[mfharrison]

surely this is a horrible soicalist vote buying policy that only the evil Thaksin would come out with

[chainarong]

If you were on ten grand baht a month you miss out by 30 grand baht , so you must be in the middle income bracket ,aren't U lucky , a step in the right direction for low wage earners , however the wages structure in Thailand needs a complete overhaul , I paid well over what you'd pay in OZ for electricity last month , admittedly the 3hp Aircon split set for the dog worked 24/7, however, I notice consumer prices , fuel are all up , just how many checks and balances are done to ensure prices remain at or below inflation rate , is any body's guess, everything is ad hoc in Thailand ,without any structure, system or purpose to speak off , putting anyone earning less than 40 thousand baht a month at the poor end of the scale , of course the multinationals would hate to read this , because low wages are the only reason they are here, it can't be the weather............................................ .

[dhream]

Nothing like aping all the failed policies of the west.

Untenable welfare programs. Drug wars. What next? Invade somewhere you have no business being in some BS pretext to further enrich the 0.01 while the kids from the heartland die 'defending' the indefensible.

Way to go guys.

[anon467848]

So 100,000 baht yearly (274 baht p/day) conveniently work out at less than the 300 p/day minimum wage. Not many are even getting that, especially in the North, North East Thailand...

Yet another populist policy to gain the favour of the poor, and get their vote of confidence at the polls...

Edited June 15, 2016 by merlin2002

[halloween]

If you were on ten grand baht a month you miss out by 30 grand baht , so you must be in the middle income bracket ,aren't U lucky , a step in the right direction for low wage earners , however the wages structure in Thailand needs a complete overhaul , I paid well over what you'd pay in OZ for electricity last month , admittedly the 3hp Aircon split set for the dog worked 24/7, however, I notice consumer prices , fuel are all up , just how many checks and balances are done to ensure prices remain at or below inflation rate , is any body's guess, everything is ad hoc in Thailand ,without any structure, system or purpose to speak off , putting anyone earning less than 40 thousand baht a month at the poor end of the scale , of course the multinationals would hate to read this , because low wages are the only reason they are here, it can't be the weather............................................ .

"I paid well over what you'd pay in OZ for electricity last month........."

Are we talking about total or rates here sunshine? You're total might be well up as you refuse to acclimatise, but the rate here is significantly lower a ~B4/kWh, or AU$0.15. Current Sydney prices are ~50% higher, unless you are lucky enough to get a Powersmart meter (and you don't get a choice, they are coming) where peak prices are triple Thai.

https://www.originenergy.com.au/content/dam/origin/residential/docs/energy-price-fact-sheets/nsw/NSW_Electricity_Residential_AusGrid_Origin%20Supply.PDF

Just how many checks and balances are there in Oz to ensure prices for consumer items and fuel remain below inflation rate? SFA. And who should we blame for your misperceptions?

[halloween]

So 100,000 baht yearly (274 baht p/day) conveniently work out at less than the 300 p/day minimum wage. Not many are even getting that, especially in the North, North East Thailand...

Yet another populist policy to gain the favour of the poor, and get their vote of confidence at the polls...

Well your maths is fine, but do you know anybody that 365 days per year and still makes less than B100,000?

Hardly ant details given, and yet all the Mr Negatives are whining again. Why? Because the wrong people are offering a policy likely to be VERY popular, especially amongst the poor and uneducated who they see a being THEIR voter base.

[Winniedapu]

So 100,000 baht yearly (274 baht p/day) conveniently work out at less than the 300 p/day minimum wage. Not many are even getting that, especially in the North, North East Thailand...

Yet another populist policy to gain the favour of the poor, and get their vote of confidence at the polls...

Well your maths is fine, but do you know anybody that 365 days per year and still makes less than B100,000?

Hardly ant details given, and yet all the Mr Negatives are whining again. Why? Because the wrong people are offering a policy likely to be VERY popular, especially amongst the poor and uneducated who they see a being THEIR voter base.

Well I guess we'll just wait to see the cheering throngs in the streets of Bangkok then eh?

W

[halloween]

So 100,000 baht yearly (274 baht p/day) conveniently work out at less than the 300 p/day minimum wage. Not many are even getting that, especially in the North, North East Thailand...

Yet another populist policy to gain the favour of the poor, and get their vote of confidence at the polls...

Well your maths is fine, but do you know anybody that 365 days per year and still makes less than B100,000?

Hardly ant details given, and yet all the Mr Negatives are whining again. Why? Because the wrong people are offering a policy likely to be VERY popular, especially amongst the poor and uneducated who they see a being THEIR voter base.

Well I guess we'll just wait to see the cheering throngs in the streets of Bangkok then eh?

W

What do you mean "we" white man? You wouldn't see them if they were there.

[PoorSucker]

Am I eligible as foreigner?

[Winniedapu]

So 100,000 baht yearly (274 baht p/day) conveniently work out at less than the 300 p/day minimum wage. Not many are even getting that, especially in the North, North East Thailand...

Yet another populist policy to gain the favour of the poor, and get their vote of confidence at the polls...

Well your maths is fine, but do you know anybody that 365 days per year and still makes less than B100,000?

Hardly ant details given, and yet all the Mr Negatives are whining again. Why? Because the wrong people are offering a policy likely to be VERY popular, especially amongst the poor and uneducated who they see a being THEIR voter base.

Well I guess we'll just wait to see the cheering throngs in the streets of Bangkok then eh?

W

What do you mean "we" white man? You wouldn't see them if they were there.

Try not to be offensive son, there's no point. It only demeans you and I don't give a hoot.

Winnie

[Redline]

More loans yea! Later they will pay off the bad loans for them. It's the trick they use to say they are not giving money to people. This is another reason people don't pay their loans~later someone will pay them for them.

[JeremyBowskill]

This has as much potential for scamming as the rice pledging scheme, can't see what could possibly go wrong here..........

[xtrnuno41]

maybe also start with the wealthy Thai to let them pay more for their employees.

As it is in the whole world, the rich get richer and the poor poorer.

Didnt i see an article just not long ago that Thai working people complaint about their income, as they cant keep up?!

Could it be prices are going up?! Or they, possibly, changed their way of life?

Maybe bad news for tourist, as maybe women will leave with this "generous project" and have another job. You know what im talking about.

A (rice) farmer works like hell and what does he have for income? Who is making the real profit ?

Just cut on the top and having a fair income for all.

Sadly, the world is not like that and it is just me me me.

[djjamie]

About time Thailand caught up with the rest of the world by offering social welfare.

Unsurprising previous govt's didn't do this. They wanted the money for themselves.

Well done and managed well this is a great way forward for the majority.

Edited June 15, 2016 by djjamie

[hawker9000]

About time Thailand caught up with the rest of the world by offering social welfare.

Unsurprising previous govt's didn't do this. They wanted the money for themselves.

Well done and managed well this is a great way forward for the majority.

Yes, About time! Now Thailand can help swell the ranks of the absurdly overspent & indebted socialist republics of the world and can one day hope to be as bankrupt as they are. Sweet! Now that's being "progressive"!!

[Siamwhiteelephant]

How will they verify peoples income when most low income transactions are made in cash ? No paper trail gives the government ample weaseling room to avoid making payments.

Good point. Maybe those people will now demand their income received other than in cash. Ones doing something about their work illegally will just have to miss out or make changes..

[DrTuner]

Am I eligible as foreigner?

I don't think they grant work permits for being on the dole.

[nakhonandy]

I thought they didn't do populist policies.

The only way that welfare payments work is that everybody pays income tax, irrespective of income, starts at a low percentage and then increases with income. They then have a stake in the system. How many pay tax here and how many pay too little?

[trainman34014]

All sounds good for the low paid but millions of the people in that category live from day to day in markets and so on with no books kept whatsoever. Nobody here wants to keep books if they can avoid it as they don't want to pay tax, so the powers that be know there won't be much take up.

[MaxLee]

When the cost of living goes up, it's no use....

[realfunster]

I thought they didn't do populist policies.

The only way that welfare payments work is that everybody pays income tax, irrespective of income, starts at a low percentage and then increases with income. They then have a stake in the system. How many pay tax here and how many pay too little?

The numbers of actual personal & corporate tax payers compared to the whole is minute.

As far as I know, less than 5% of total population in each category.

What is even more annoying is that the Revenue Department only hassle those paying tax into the system-those playing somewhat fair- and can't be arsed with those playing games. Not a good incentive to get people in the tax paying mindset.

[JAG]

So 100,000 baht yearly (274 baht p/day) conveniently work out at less than the 300 p/day minimum wage. Not many are even getting that, especially in the North, North East Thailand...

Yet another populist policy to gain the favour of the poor, and get their vote of confidence at the polls...

Well your maths is fine, but do you know anybody that 365 days per year and still makes less than B100,000?

Hardly ant details given, and yet all the Mr Negatives are whining again. Why? Because the wrong people are offering a policy likely to be VERY popular, especially amongst the poor and uneducated who they see a being THEIR voter base.

Well I guess we'll just wait to see the cheering throngs in the streets of Bangkok then eh?

W

Cheering throngs in Bangkok eh?

Time to dust off the old Pantip Plaza CD of Photoshop is it then?

[Srikcir]

Originally Prayut wanted a negative income tax that was essentially like the USA Earrned Income Tax Credit.

Glad to see that Prayut is going with the more traditional welfare system that has been used elsewhere throughout the world in developed countries. Maybe Thailand can learn from their deficiencies and avoid welfare abuse and cheating.

But ....

Such a system requires a vigorous and comprehensive new administration. This program is not something you can just add to the current government organization - "other duties as assigned." With Thailand having the worst tax collection rate in the world, management of a welfare program might be beyond its current capability. Without careful preparation the Thai government could suffer massive fraud and loss of vital tax revenue, leading to more borrowing.

[daiwill60]

If you were on ten grand baht a month you miss out by 30 grand baht , so you must be in the middle income bracket ,aren't U lucky , a step in the right direction for low wage earners , however the wages structure in Thailand needs a complete overhaul , I paid well over what you'd pay in OZ for electricity last month , admittedly the 3hp Aircon split set for the dog worked 24/7, however, I notice consumer prices , fuel are all up , just how many checks and balances are done to ensure prices remain at or below inflation rate , is any body's guess, everything is ad hoc in Thailand ,without any structure, system or purpose to speak off , putting anyone earning less than 40 thousand baht a month at the poor end of the scale , of course the multinationals would hate to read this , because low wages are the only reason they are here, it can't be the weather............................................ .

Being a farang teacher in Thailand also has a major drawback in reference to this.

I have been teaching here now for about 5 years mostly in Government schools and I have been and am currently teaching in one of the top 10 universities in Thailand for 2 years. I thought I would be having an evaluation at the end of this year with the management ( but it will also be based on comments by the students apparently, in order to decide if or not I get a new contract, the same as in schools) which I was told a while back, would give me a pay rise, but I am now told that there are no increases for farangs, and if there are any, it will be up to the Government to award them as our staff salaries are Gov't paid.

The Thai staff regularly have promotional based increases and lots of little extra work bonuses.

The cost of living in Thailand has been going up while I have been here, but not generally the farang salaries in Government funded educational establishments.

NO wonder so many are f**king off to other SE Asian countries < Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar etc , where cost of living is cheaper and salaries can be much higher.

Finding myself dipping into the savings more and more each month , without chances of replenishment in order to feed and house the missus and kids. She is also working as a trainee manager at the local mall, Au Bon Pain shop, for many hours and a pittance of a salary( about 10k+ ), so probably would no qualify for this meagre handout either.

If it weren't for them, I would be out of here ASAP.

Edited June 15, 2016 by daiwill60

[GuestHouse]

About time Thailand caught up with the rest of the world by offering social welfare.

Unsurprising previous govt's didn't do this. They wanted the money for themselves.

Well done and managed well this is a great way forward for the majority.

Yes, About time! Now Thailand can help swell the ranks of the absurdly overspent & indebted socialist republics of the world and can one day hope to be as bankrupt as they are. Sweet! Now that's being "progressive"!!

Here's your chance to use the internet to find something out.

You have referred to socialist republics as if you know what you are talking about - so tell us, how many socialists republics are there?

[Muzarella]

100.000/year?...that is the income of 80% of Thailand's population!