December 2016 : A New Year Wish from King Vajjiralongkorn King Vajiralongkorn New Year wish and will Fourth Interim Charter got royal endorsement Four principles on politicians’ trail revealed Thai corruption index dropped from 76th to 101th Cabinet resolved on 2.9 trillion baht 2018 Fiscal Bidget Tax incentives to boost domestic investment extended to 31/12/17 Public disaster victims to get financial aids from house damages Flood victims shall get tax reduction A master plan to promote reading culture Civic Education includes in students council 5 proposals EC set 4.8 billion baht for 2018 general election 2017 export value reversed to 0.45% highest in 4 years Cabinet resolved on Road Transport Act Amendment to increase fines Cabinet resolved on Employees Act Amendment to extend coverage King Vajiralongkorn New Year wishes and will On 31th December HM King Vajiralongkorn gave a televised broadcasted New Year wish. He thanked the Thai people on their condolences and support on the occasion the late King Bhumipol passed away. He expressed his will to perform his duty and to uphold King Bhumipol’s royal policies. Fourth Interim Charter got royal endorsement The fourth Interim Constitution was effective upon published in the Royal Gazette’ s website on 15th January. There are amendments on Article 3 and 39/1. Article 3 stated the king’s right and judgement to decide whether to appoint a regent when the monarch is not in the kingdom or unavailable. Article 39/1 was replaced by Article 4 upon the ratification of the Interim Charter. Four principles on politicians’ trail revealed The spoke person of the Constitution Drafting Committee disclosed the principles on the trial politicians in regard to the draft Organic law that: Definite practices should be employed in the trail and a secondary committee should be appointed to perform functions whenever the primary one not available. The Supreme Court Criminal Division of Persons Holding Political Positions should be equipped with mechanisms, such as supporting officials, similar to the Criminal Court’s functions. The Organic law should have details on an appeal which allows in the draft Constitution. The trial should be able to continue even though to the offenders fled. However, there are a few controversies from the subcommittee that needed further reconsideration. Thai corruption index dropped Thailand’s rank in the 2016 Corruption Index, rated by the Transparency International, was dropped from 76th in 2015 to 101th among 175 countries. Cabinet approved 2.9 trillion baht 2017 Fiscal Year Budget Bill On 24th January, the Cabinet resolved the 2017 Fiscal Budget Bill with an estimation of 2,900,000 million baht. Regular expenditure is 2,146,000 million equivalents to 74% while the rest, 667,000 million or 23% is for investment and 89,000 million, 3%, for loans repayment. National income is estimated at 2,450,000 making a deficit of 450,000 million baht, equivalents to 2.8% of National GDP. Tax incentives to promote investment extended On 24th the Cabinet resolved to extend measures on tax incentives to promote investment from 24 January to 31 December 2017. Though it was estimated that the juristic person tax exempt will cost a loss of 100 million baths on 2017 public income, a total of 8,000 million baht increase was anticipated from overall domestic investment. However, the previous tax exemption of 2 folds of juristic person investment expenditure has been lowered to 1.5 to lessen impact on state’s income. House damages from public disaster to get financial aids On 24th January, the Public Disaster Aids Fund Committee, chaired by the Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, resolved on the allowances for households affected from flooding in the southern region as follow: A maximum of 230,000 baht for house of 60-100 % damages. A maximum of 70,000 baht for house of 30-60 % damages. A maximum of 15,000 baht for house of less than 30 damages. After the flood, on 1 January, the Department of Public Disaster sent surveyors to the south provinces and reported a total of 9,849 flooded households are suitable to compensation. They are divided according to total, partially and little damages; 272, 645 and 8,932 respectively. The financial allowances shall be sent through the governor’s and the Department of Public Works and City Planning also provides standard construction plans for urgent alleviation. Tax reduce for flooded victims On 17th January, the Cabinet resolves 2 measures on income tax reduce for persons in the designated southern flooding area as follow: Tax exemption on expenditures, at actual cost to a maximum of 100,000 baht, from restoration of a house or condominium unit damages from flood. The expense must pay from 1 December 2016 to 31 May 2017. Tax exemption on expenditures, at actual cost to a maximum of 30,000 baht, from fixing of vehicles, paid from 1 December 2016 to 31 May 2017. A master plan to promote reading culture On 17th January, the Cabinet acknowledged a Master Plan to Promote Reading Culture in Thai Society B.E. 2650-2564 proposed by the Ministry of Culture. Principle is to strengthen reading habits among all age groups. Target is set to increase average daily reading hours from currently 66 minutes to 90 via these strategies; Instill reading habit among all age groups. Provide easy access to literature media in urban and regional communities. Upgrade knowledge base quality and reading media. Provide environment that facilitate reading culture. Civic Education includes in students council 5 proposals On 15th January, to commemorate the Children Day, the 2017 Students Council led by its president Ms. Siraya Tangdara form Kamphangpetch Pittayakom School paid a curtesy call to Deputy Education Minister M.L.Panadda Diskul. They proposed 5 ideas to the Ministry as follow; To upheld HM King Bhumipol Sufficiency Economy concept as a way of life. To promote civic education and democratic values. To resolve drugs and risk habits problems. To conserve Thai and local culture. To conserve nature and environment. EC set 4.8 billion baht for 2018 election budget On 10th January the Election Commission disclosed its 2018 estimated fiscal budget, from 1 October 2017 to 30 September 2018, at roughly 4,800 million baht. The EC anticipated a general election holds in 2018, therefore, the budget has to cover the last general election expenditure, 3,800 million baht, and new expenditures in regards to the new constitution and organic laws for examples, the cost of hiring 500 temporary inspectors during the two months of election campaign and travelling expenditures of the 7 Election Commissioners whose addition countrywide function is election purge. Export grows 0.45% highest in 4 years The Trade Policy and Strategy Office unveiled export-import volumes in 2016 were USD 215 billion and 195 billion respectively. Export was 0.45% higher than the same quarter of last year, the highest in the 4 passing years and anticipated to grow 2.5-3.5% this year under hypothesis Dubai crude oil prices USD 50-60 per barrel, exchange rate 35.5-37.5 baht per USD, industrial export income grows 2.0-3.0% and agricultural export income 1.0-2.0% . A USD 20.7 billion overbalance was a result from import drop 3.94% though export volumes were deficit since 2013. Road Transport Act amends to increase fines On 4th January, the Cabinet resolved on the Road Transport Amendment draft bill with principle to increase fines on driving when drunk, over speed limits, not using safety belt and illegal driving licenses. After receiving a fine warrant, the wrongdoer must pay at the police station within 15 days and the negligent will receive a notification from the issuant police officer. Failing to pay can lead to penalty such as holding of driving license or banning from vehicle tax renew. Fines will be increased to two folds upon repetitive offence within 1 year. Penalties and fines on drunken driving, car racing on public driveways and gathering for the purpose of racing on public driveway are also increased. Employees Act amends to extend coverage On 4th January, the Cabinet resolved on the Employees Act Amendment with principle to improve efficiency, effectiveness and reflect current socio-economic circumstances. The application of daily minimum rates is extended to cover the juvenile, handicapped and elderly groups while employer’s documentation submission is reduced. Retirement is redefine as lay off and entitles to same compensation. If no retirement age is specified, 60 is applies and the employees shall receive lay off compensation.