Poor Thais to get welfare subsidy next month
THE CABINET yesterday approved a Bt12.75-billion budget to subsidise the cost of living for more than 8 million low-income earners who have registered for welfare.
People who earn Bt30,000 per year or less will get a one-time subsidy of Bt3,000 per person, while those earning Bt30,000 to Bt100,000 per year will get a one-time subsidy of Bt1,500 per person.
Colonel Taksada Sangkhachan, assistant government spokesperson, said about 3.1 million low-income people with annual incomes of Bt30,000 or less had already registered for state welfare as had another 2.3 million people with incomes between Bt30,000 to Bt100,000 per year.
Payments are expected to be made from December 1 to December 30 through the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, the Government Savings Bank and Krungthai Bank accounts.
Low-income people covered by the subsidy programme include 3 million farmers who have not received government aid, according to the Cabinet.
‘Boost to economy’
The money spent by low-income people will also help to stimulate the economy as the third-quarter growth rate of 3.2 per cent was lower than the previous quarter’s 3.5 per cent, the Finance Ministry said.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the move aimed to help low-income earners who had registered with the government.
In addition, New Year’s gifts including tax allowances for travel expenses and free passage on public buses and trains would be offered, he said.
Prayut also said the financial assistance would prompt spending by consumers, which would affect the overall economy.
The Cabinet also approved the Ministry of Labour’s proposed increase in the minimum daily wage in 69 provinces by a range of Bt5 to Bt10, Prayut said, adding that all ministerial units had been asked to hold seminars in the country during New Year.
