Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai cabinet on March 22adopted a 10-point plan to ease the increasing living cost burden on locals dueto impacts of the rising fuel prices arising from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The conflict has affected the cost of production andtransportation of goods and services, causing the cost of living to rise,especially for low-income earners and labourers, Prime Minister MinisterPrayut Chan-o-cha was quoted by local media as saying at a press conferenceafter the weekly cabinet meeting on March 22.
He said that after evaluating the Russia-Ukraine situation,authorities believe the conflict might not end soon. He ordered agencies concerned to brainstorm ways to provide urgent help beyond the measures alreadyissued and in use now. The new measures, at least 10, are expected to last fromMay until July, he added.
The new measures include increasing the state subsidy forcooking gas for 3.6 million state welfare cardholders from 45 baht to 100 bahta month, providing one 100-baht discount per month to 5,500 vendors and hawkerswho hold state welfare cards, and reducing gasohol costs by 250 baht permonth for 157,000 working motorcycle drivers registered with theDepartment of Land Transport.
Meanwhile, the retail price of NGV will be maintained at15.59 baht (0.47 USD) per kilogramme. Metered taxi drivers under the Lom HaiJai Diow Gun (Breathe Together) project will be supported to buy natural gasfor 13.62 baht per kilogramme. Those who use less than 300 units ofelectricity per month will enjoy reduction in the fuel tariff by 22 satang perunit from May to August. The retail price of diesel will be kept at 30 baht perlitre until the end of April.
At the same time, the rate of social security contributionsfor both employers and employees under Section 33 of the Social Security Act willbe cut from 5 percent to 1 percent to give employees more spending power andemployers more liquidity to run their businesses.
The cabinet also agreed to suspend half the 9.3 billion bahtdebt that thousands of farmers owe to state banks, with the rest to berestructured within 15 years.
The Thai PM said he had ordered the Ministry of Agricultureand Cooperatives and the Ministry of Commerce to issue urgent measures to helpfarmers before the harvesting season by ensuring the supply of raw materials. Hevowed to move ahead with the country’s rehabilitation plan in the short, mediumand long terms, including creating trade and investment opportunities withother countries and reopening the country to tourism./.
The conflict has affected the cost of production andtransportation of goods and services, causing the cost of living to rise,especially for low-income earners and labourers, Prime Minister MinisterPrayut Chan-o-cha was quoted by local media as saying at a press conferenceafter the weekly cabinet meeting on March 22.
He said that after evaluating the Russia-Ukraine situation,authorities believe the conflict might not end soon. He ordered agencies concerned to brainstorm ways to provide urgent help beyond the measures alreadyissued and in use now. The new measures, at least 10, are expected to last fromMay until July, he added.
The new measures include increasing the state subsidy forcooking gas for 3.6 million state welfare cardholders from 45 baht to 100 bahta month, providing one 100-baht discount per month to 5,500 vendors and hawkerswho hold state welfare cards, and reducing gasohol costs by 250 baht permonth for 157,000 working motorcycle drivers registered with theDepartment of Land Transport.
Meanwhile, the retail price of NGV will be maintained at15.59 baht (0.47 USD) per kilogramme. Metered taxi drivers under the Lom HaiJai Diow Gun (Breathe Together) project will be supported to buy natural gasfor 13.62 baht per kilogramme. Those who use less than 300 units ofelectricity per month will enjoy reduction in the fuel tariff by 22 satang perunit from May to August. The retail price of diesel will be kept at 30 baht perlitre until the end of April.
At the same time, the rate of social security contributionsfor both employers and employees under Section 33 of the Social Security Act willbe cut from 5 percent to 1 percent to give employees more spending power andemployers more liquidity to run their businesses.
The cabinet also agreed to suspend half the 9.3 billion bahtdebt that thousands of farmers owe to state banks, with the rest to berestructured within 15 years.
The Thai PM said he had ordered the Ministry of Agricultureand Cooperatives and the Ministry of Commerce to issue urgent measures to helpfarmers before the harvesting season by ensuring the supply of raw materials. Hevowed to move ahead with the country’s rehabilitation plan in the short, mediumand long terms, including creating trade and investment opportunities withother countries and reopening the country to tourism./.
VNA
