Govt thinks again on car rebates, civil service incomes
Finance Minister Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala has indicated the government will extend its first-car scheme to include imported cars, in order to avoid an accusation of trade protectionism.
"We have to comply with a national treatment principle of the World Trade Organisation [WTO], so I have consulted with the Commerce Ministry to review the measures," Thirachai said during a tele-press conference from Washington yesterday.
The review of the original plan, which offered tax rebates of up to Bt100,000 for first-time car buyers, would be made - but car prices will be still capped at Bt1 million. He said he had not yet looked at a proposal to extend the measure to cover larger cars with a cylinder capacity of up to 1,600 cc. He may propose this to tomorrow's Cabinet meeting.
Deputy Finance Minister Viroon Tejapaibul said he would propose this week that the Cabinet slightly increase the monthly allowance for those who have a monthly income of Bt15,000. The move comes after the Cabinet last week approved the raising of monthly incomes of civil servants who hold a bachelor degree to Bt15,000. The government was criticised as implementing unfair treatment to those who hold higher degrees and earned a little more than Bt15,000.
