National —
On August 24th, 2024, Mrs. Thaniwan Kulmongkol, the president of the Thai Restaurant Association, expressed her approval of the new government’s plan to distribute 10,000 baht in cash to 14.5 million vulnerable citizens in September, totaling 120 billion baht.
Thaniwan noted that this change from digital wallets to cash would make it easier and faster for consumers to access the money. While the amount may seem small, it holds significant value for low-income individuals, especially those who hold a State Welfare Card or Poor’s People card, to cover daily expenses.
Read the recent article about the 10,000-baht hand out to the vulnerable group in September.
Thaniwan also suggested that the government should not impose too many restrictions on how the money is spent and proposed allowing it to be used in restaurants. She believes this could have a broader impact, particularly on the restaurant industry, which plays a vital role in the supply chain.
She emphasized that injecting 50 billion baht into restaurants could boost market purchasing power threefold, which could revive the sluggish economy in the Q4 of 2024.
Additionally, Thaniwan urged the new government led by new Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to delay the planned increase in the minimum wage to 400 baht until the economy improves, as it could disproportionately benefit foreign workers and strain restaurant owners.
Thaniwan also highlighted the challenges facing the restaurant industry, including fierce competition from well-funded major operators and Chinese capital, especially in restaurant and drink businesses, urging the government to enforce existing regulations more strictly.
