November 2017 : Royal Endorsement for Prayuth 5th Administration HM King Vajiralongkorn endorsed Prayuth 5th Cabinet NLA approved Election Organic Bill in principles 3,012 complaints submitted to NCPO in 4 months NLA extended 5 CC judges terms Northeastern highways to seek ADB fund Employment rosde 2.45% in 2017 NLA amended new definition on “Public Debt” 2% alcohol-cigarettes taxes allocate to the elderly 41 candidates applied to EC 4.7 BB for flooded agricultural households Tax incentives for 11 Nov. to 3 Dec. shopping AG to refile telecom concession -Krung Thai Bank cases Rent housing provincial projects for low income SS cards generated more than 5.2 BB in 1st month Local authority projects withdrawal extended 900 MHz and 1800 MHz for bidding Thai ranked 8th of 10 APAC Digital Trust Index 2017 5th cabinet reshuffle       HM King Vajiralongkorn endorsed the cabinet reshuffled was published in the royal Gazette website http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th on November 23 as follow:       1. Those who were removed are: General Tanasak Patimaprakorn, deputy Prime Minister Admiral General Narong Pipatnasai, deputy Prime Minister Mr. Omsin Chivapruek, Minister attached to Prime Minister’s Office Mr. Suvit Maesincee, Minister attached to Prime Minister’s Office General Udomdej Sitabutr, deputy Defense Minister Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavarangkul, Tourism and Sport Minister Pol. Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew, Social Development and Human Security Minister Gen. Chatchai Sarikalya. Agriculture and Cooperative Minister Ms. Chutima Bunyapraphasara, Deputy Agriculture and Cooperative Minister Mr. Picjit Akarathit, Deputy Transport Minister Gen. Anantaporn Kanjanarat, Energy Minister Mrs. Apiradi Tantraporn, Commerce Minister Mr. Sondhirat Sondhijirawong, Deputy Commerce Minister Mr. Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, Justice Minister Mrs. Ornchaka Sribunruang, Science and Technology Minister M.L.Panadda Diskul, Deputy Education Minister       2. Those who were new appointed are: Gen. Chatchai Sarikalya, deputy Prime Minister Mr. Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, Minister attached to Prime Minister’s Office Mr. Kobsak Pootrakool, Minister attached to Prime Minister’s Office Gen. Chaichan Changmongkol, Deputy Defense Minister Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat, Tourism and Sport Minister Gen. Anantaporn Kanjanarat, Social Development and Human Security Minister Mr. Krissada Boonraj, Agriculture and Cooperative Minister Mr. Lak Wajanawatch, Deputy Agriculture and Cooperative Minister Mr. Wiwat Salyakamthorn, Deputy Agriculture and Cooperative Minister Mr. Pairin Chuchot-taworn, Deputy Transport Minister Mr. Siri Jirapongphan, Energy Minister Mr. Sondhirat Sondhijirawong, Commerce Minister Ms. Chutima Bunyapraphasara, Deputy Commerce Minister ACM Prajin Juntong, also Justice Minister Pol. Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew, Labour Minister Mr. Suvit Maesincee, Science and Technology Minister Mr. Udom Kachintorn, Deputy Education Minister Mr. Somchai Hanhiran, Deputy Industry Minister NLA approved Election Bill in principles       On 30th November, the National Legislative Assembly voted to approve the draft Election Organic Bill with 189 to 5 abstained and 2 no votes. The Assembly appointed a 33 members extraordinary committee to read the Bill within 58 days. 3,012 complaints submitted to NCPO between July to November       On 23rd November, the NCPO spokesperson, Col. Sirichan Nga-tong disclosed in the past four months, July to November, a total of 3,012 complaints have been submitted to the National Council for Peace and Order. 1,024 through hotlines, 1,431 by mail, 186 personally and 371 through military units nationwide. Mostly are on official malfeasance and the rest on problems regarding to land, legal dispute, utilities and delay state services. 5 CC judges terms extended       On 23rd November, the National Legislative Assembly voted on the second and third rounds and approved, with 188 to 0 and 5 abstained, to extend the expiry terms of five Constitution Court judges, until the first NLA convention completed. This making the CC panel comprises of 9 members as stating in the law.       Section 69/1 authorizes the CC to issue temporary measures or practices in order to prevent severe damage to the country and the relevant agents must act in compliance. Northeastern highways to seek ADB fund       On 21st November, the cabinet resolved on a draft loan contract, USD 99.40 million, between the Finance Ministry and Asian Development Bank for the construction of highways in the northeastern region. A 4-lane highway route 22 phase 2 will be constructed between Nong Harn district Sakon Narkhorn province and Pang Khon districts Nakorn Panom province. Route 23 between Roi Et and Yasothorn provinces. Total investment is 6,808 million baht and 3,404 million baht has been added to the 2018 fiscal debt budgeting. Employment rose 2.45% in 2017       The Labor Ministry deputy permanent secretary disclosed social security employed, according to Section 33 of the Labor Act, as of October 2017 is 10,695,748 persons, 2.45% increased from October 2016. Unemployment in October is 1.3% and anticipated to drop to 0.8% in November.       The Ministry has launched a Mobile Application “Smart Job Center” to facilitate employment seekers and employers to directly communicate on the platform.       The Ministry’s Department of Skill Development will cooperate with provincial network and community leaders to conduct a survey, starting on 14th December, on work demand for skill development nationwide. The program is anticipated to reach 61,840 people nationwide. NLA passed Public Debt Act       On 16th November, the National Legislative Assembly voted on the second and third round and passed the Public Debt Act with 179 votes.       The Act is an amendment of the B.E. 2548 Act with principles to clarify a definition of the “Public Debt”. Under the new Act, public debt exclude debts, not guaranteed by the Finance Ministry, owe by state enterprises’ doing loan business, asset management and loan insurance, and the Bank of Thailand’s debt. The Act also improved the element of the Public Debt Policy and Management Council and its investment criteria for efficiency and fluently. A council shall comprise of 12 members chairs by the Finance Minister. NLA passed a law on the low-income elderly       On 16th November, the National Legislative Assembly voted on the third round to pass the Elderly Act with 181 to 0 and 6 abstained. Principles are to allocate 2% from alcohol and cigarettes taxes, at a maximum 4,000 million baht per annum, to the low income elderly fund. A definition of the low-income elderly will be subsequently defined by the National Elderly Council. The Act will be enforced upon publishes in the Royal Gazette. 41 candidates lined up for 7 EC seats       On 19th October, the last day of Election Commissioners application, a total of 41 have applied for its 7 seats.       The Selection Panel will screen their qualifications and decide whether the applied number suits the selection criteria. 4.7 BB to help the flooded agricultural households       On 7th November, the cabinet resolved on Agricultural and Cooperatives Ministry proposals on the alleviation measures for the flooded households affected by Talus-Sernka and Sokturi typhoons. Budget is 4,715.17 million baht and each household will receive a 3,000 baht cash. Shopping 11/11 to 3/12 gets tax relieve       On 7th November, the cabinet resolved to endorse tax relief measures to allow private person to get a tax relief of maximum 15,000 baht for shopping from 11 November to 3 December 2017. This excludes expenditures in tourism; accommodations, guide fees and medication in hospitals.       The Finance Ministry anticipated the measures will cost a state loss approximately 2,000 million baht but could generate income around 10,000 million baht. AG to refile telecom excise – KTB loan cases       The Attorney-General working committee resolved to refile two cases relevant with Thaksin Shinawatra to the court. The cases were suspended after he fled. They are the revision of telecom concession to excise tax and the Krung Thai Bank loan. The amended law allows the court to proceed in absent of the offender. Rent housing projects for low income in 3 provinces       On 21st November, the cabinet resolved on three projects to build rent housing for the low-income. Total units are 494 and construction cost, 248.7 million baht. 197 million baht is state subsidy and 51.6 million baht from internal loan. 196 units, 111 million baht in Kratum ban, Samutsakorn, 102 units, 49.3 million baht in Nong Hoi, Chiangmai and 196 units, 88.3 million baht in Nakorn Sawan.       The Finance Ministry is assigned to seek and guarantee loan, 51.6 million baht; dividing into 48.6 and 3.0 million baht in 2018 and 2019 fiscal year respectively. SS cards generated more than 5.2 BB in 1st month       The Finance Ministry disclosed Social Security card holders have spent a total of 19.8 million items, or 5,225 million baht, at the Blue Flag shops in their first month. The SS cards are first distributed in seven provinces; BMA, Nonthaburi, Pathumthani, Ayudhaya, Samutprakarn, Nakorn Pathom and Samut Sakorn. Card holders are registered and endorsed as low income group since 21 September 2017 and are entitled to receive a certain value of consumer goods from the government designated shops.       The SS card program aims to lessen the low income group’s burden. Currently 11.4 million people are endorsed to hold the card but 10.45 million, equivalent to 92%, already given. Local authorities Matching Fund projects extended       On 14th November, the cabinet resolved on the Interior Ministry proposal to extend the Local authorities’ Matching Fund Project budgeting from 30th September 2017 to 30th March 2018. Debt-binding and repayment will be rescheduled in conform to the new schedule.       The program aims to promote local authority investment in infrastructure, economic and social projects. 2,712 projects, out of 3,223, have been approved with a total investment 2,404 million baht. All projects cost, 2,802 million baht, has been approved by the Budget Bureau in the Fiscal Year budgeting since 26th September. 900 MHz and 1800 MHz for bidding       On 8th November, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Council resolved on the draft announcement on the bidding of 900 MHz and 1800 MHz. The draft will be put for public hearing after consideration by the State Council. It is anticipating the bidding criteria will be disclosed in January 2018. Bidding could start in May and licensing completed in June. Thai ranked 8th of 10 APAC Digital Trust Index 2017       The Experian market research and advisory firm revealed its 2017 Digital Trust Index report that Thailand ranked 8th among the 10 Asia Pacific countries. The first is New Zealand with 4.2 score followed by Japan 4.1, Australia 3.8, India 3.3, China 2.8, Vietnam 2.5, Hong Kong 2.5, Thailand 2.3, Singapore 2.3 and Indonesia 1.8.       The Digital Trust Index was developed to provide a meaningful way to measure trust between customers and organizations, across regions and sectors. The index reviews a selection of criteria across industries and countries to determine the level of trust consumers have for digital services. It also offers a snapshot of consumer behavior and expectations. A higher score indicate that customers are satisfied with their digital transaction experience, while a lower score indicates a failure in trust.       The index is based on four key variables including the levels of digital adoption, industry preferences and fraud rates, and the effectiveness of companies’ fraud management capabilities. Survey was conducted in three business sectors, finance, telecom and retail.