Finance ministry proposes cash handouts for those affected by shutdown
The Ministry of Finance is planning to propose cash handouts for those who have become unemployed or been affected by the closure of business venues in Bangkok and other provinces as part of measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Ministry permanent secretary Prasong Poontaneat said measures would be proposed to the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday (March 24) to help people who are affected by the government’s order to shutdown several business venues.
“Those having social security will be taken care of by the Social Security Office, while those who are not insured under the social security scheme will be taken care of by the Ministry of Finance,” he said. “We are planning to use an emergency budget from fiscal 2020 of around Bt20 billion to provide cash handouts to people affected by the Covid-19 preventive measures.”
Prasong explained that the proposed plan aims to hand out cash of Bt2,000 per person for two months, meaning each person will get Bt4,000. “We expect that there will be around five million people who will be eligible for the cash handouts,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kobsak Pootrakool, deputy secretary-general to the Prime Minister for political affairs, said that in the next meeting the Cabinet will discuss with related ministries and departments measures to help affected people and stimulate the economy.
“The foundation of the Thai economy is still strong despite the Covid-19 outbreak, which has also affected several countries,” he said. “I believe the impact from Covid-19 will be short-term, and when there is a vaccine available, the situation will gradually improve and the Thai economy will start to grow again.”