 January 2009 : Government and the Economic Plan
Tax reduction cost 40 billion baht lost On 20th January, the Cabinet approved schemes to reduce the effect of the economic crisis they are: It is estimated that the State will lose approximately 40 billion baht from the implementation of these schemes which will be brought into force by Royal Decrees and Ministerial Regulations. 2009 economic deficit at 3.5% On 29th January, the Fiscal Policy Office announced that economic indicators for December and 4th quarter of 2008 are declining to such that for the 4th quarter they might reach a deficit of 3 to 3.5 percent and the deficit will continue until the first quarter of 2010. This is caused by declining export and domestic consumption and reduced private sector investments. These together with the slowing down of public expenditure could bring stagnation to the Thai economy. 1,167 billion baht mid year budget approved On 28th January, the House of Representatives voted 238 to 1 (with 4 abstentions and 15 no-shows) to increase funds for the 2010 fiscal budget from the original 1,150 billion baht to 1,167 billion baht. The budget was passed following a Cabinet approval on 20th January to increase emergency or reserve fund from 2.391 to 4.090 billion baht and to increase the educational budget of 19 to 19.001046 billion baht to provide 15 years of free compulsory education for all Thai children. The budget also has funds to ease economic burdens for the public and for state employees. Petroleum taxes increases To stimulate gasohol consumption, excise tax on the E85 is reduced from 2.5795 to 0.75 baht per litre while E10 is adjusted from 3.3165 to 3.317 baht per litre while and bio-diesel, or B5, from 2.1898 to 2.190 baht per litre. UDDT demanded a dissolution of the House The anti-government group, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship of Thailand (UDDT) gathered in Sanam Luang on 31st January before marching to the Government House to present 3 demands to the Government: The group threatened drastic actions if the Government does not comply with its demands within 15 days. Community radio license starts on April The Sub-committee on Radio and Television Broadcasting announced progress on registration of community radio licenses. Public hearings have been held in 5 provinces: Bangkok, Chiangmai, Khon Kaen, Surat Thani and Ubon Ratchathani. After draft criteria, expected in mid February, are finished, another public hearing will be held and temporary licenses issued by April. Currently there are 4,000-5,000 community radio operators working with no licenses. Cabinet approved 8 months redundancy period The Cabinet approved a Ministry of Labor proposal to extend statutory redundancy compensation from 6 to 8 months and to cover those workers made redundant in the period from 1st December 2008 to the end of December 2009. This extended coverage to workers made redundant in December 2008 as well as in the 12 months of 2009 originally approved because it was founded that more than 51,000 people had been laid off in December 2008. The Cabinet also approved a budget of 120 million baht to train workers who lost their jobs. 13.58 billion baht to relief 3 agriculture products On 20th January, the Cabinet approved the Economic Ministers Committee proposal to allocate an additional 13.58 billion baht to stabilize prices of 3 agricultural products: maize, palm oil and rubber, up to 250,000, 100,000 and 200,000 tons respectively. The fund is divided into a 12.625 billion baht loan and a 955.75 million baht grant. 10 billion baht allocated to educational loan The Cabinet approved a budget of 10 billion baht for Educational Loan and extended eligibility to include students from second to fourth year who did not apply in their first year. It is estimated that one million students, including those in vocational studies, will now be eligible to an educational loan. 2,000 baht subsidy extended to local and state enterprise officials The Cabinet approved a plan to extend government subsidy for low-rank-low-income public officials to cover local authorities and state enterprises also. There will be an addition of approximately 38,000 officials in these two categories who will now receive 2,000 baht. The Cabinet also approved a budget of 607 million baht for the Agricultural Development Fund to buy back assets used to secure agricultural debts and return them to the farmers. Of these 1,141, costing 582 million baht are with public financial institutions and the rest, 46 with third parties. Individuals and juristic persons are eligible for this debt relief scheme. More fine for air port sabotage The Cabinet approved in principle a draft Security of Suvarnabhumi Bill which is to include all domestic airports supervised by the Air Port Authority of Thailand. This will increase the fine for breaching airport security from a range of 50 to 2,000 baht to 500 to 10,000 baht and allow airport security personnel, in cooperation with the police, to file criminal charges against offenders. However, this authority does not extend to outside contractor guards. Administrative Court dismissed TITV case The Administrative Court, on 30th January, dismissed the case filed by 105 complainants, Pirawat Chototham and associates, who were TiTV watchers and officials, against the Public Relations Department Director-General, Pramote Ratvinij, and against the Secretary-General of the Office of the Prime Minister. The complainants alleged that the defendants had no authority to terminate TiTV broadcasting on 14th January 2008 and the termination breached Article 46 of the Constitution and Article 56 of the Broadcasting Act. The Court found that the Director-General had such authority and his order was lawful. From : http://www.fpps.or.th |