cabinet
- Thailand News
Labour of love: Minister fights for informal workers’ rights
Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn is actively advocating for a legislative measure to enhance the protection and welfare of approximately 20 million informal workers, according to a statement from the ministry’s spokesperson. The Labour Ministry is preparing to engage in discussions with the Cabinet’s secretary-general to determine the appropriate timeline for presenting the bill to the Cabinet for consideration. Phumiphat Mueanchan…
- Thailand News
Thailand to expand child support to all under six years old
Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is poised to propose an expansion of the early childhood development scheme, with plans to present the child support proposal to the Cabinet shortly. The scheme aims to broaden its reach by extending financial support to all children under six years of age, enhancing the current system that aids children from impoverished…
- Politics News
New Cabinet line-up to be finalised by weekend
The new Cabinet line-up is expected to be finalised by the end of the week, according to Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. The government plans to immediately address national issues following the announcement of its policy statement in parliament next month. Phumtham, who stepped in as acting prime minister after Srettha Thavisin’s dismissal by the Constitutional Court, confirmed that…
- Politics News
PM Paetongtarn promises rigorous vetting for new Cabinet
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced that thorough background checks will be conducted on candidates for Cabinet posts to ensure compliance with legal requirements and avoid any potential legal issues. This move aims to safeguard the new government from the troubles faced by previous administrations. PM Paetongtarn made these comments yesterday, August 19, at the National Defence College, where she is…
- Thailand News
Cash in the cloud: Thailand gears up for digital wallet launch
Thailand’s deputy finance minister recently disclosed that the prime minister will announce details about the digital wallet project, including registration and identity verification steps, on Wednesday, July 24. The project aims to distribute 10,000 baht through digital wallets, pending approval from various authorities. Deputy Finance Minister Paopum Rojanasakul addressed concerns raised by Deputy Leader of the Move Forward Party, Sirikanya…
- Thailand News
Thailand allocates 15.3 billion baht for VIP aircraft and helicopters
The 2025 budget bill outlines the allocation of 12 billion baht for a new VIP aircraft and 3.3 billion baht for two mid-sized helicopters designated for important passengers. These additions aim to bolster the Royal Thai Air Force’s (RTAF) capabilities in supporting various training programs and other essential activities. Intended to replace the ageing Airbus 304 scheduled for decommissioning in…
- Thailand News
Wissanu returns to review PM’s defence in Pichit appointment case
Prime Minister Srettha Thaivisin’s newly appointed advisor Wissanu Krea-ngam faces the first challenge of scrutinising the PM’s defence in the contentious case of appointing Pichit Chuenban as a PM’s Office minister. This role marks Wissanu’s return to Government House, where he has over three decades of experience. Wissanu attended the Cabinet meeting yesterday, confirming his task to review the PM’s…
- Business News
Thailand’s tourism seeks boost after Cabinet reshuffle cooperation
Following the recent Cabinet reshuffle, Thailand’s tourism operators are urging for enhanced cooperation among ministries and related authorities to sustain the country’s transformation into a tourism and aviation hub. Khao San Road Business Association President Sanga Ruangwattanakul asserted that the Cabinet reshuffle would not destabilise the government, provided its key policies, particularly the 2030 Ignite Thailand vision, are sustained. This…
- Thailand News
Cabinet reshuffle dismissed by key ministers following budget bill
Talk of a possible Cabinet reshuffle has been dismissed by three key Cabinet ministers, following the passing of the budget expenditure bill in early April. Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang, and Agriculture Minister Capt Thamanat Prompow are the ministers in question. Rumours have been circulating about a potential Cabinet reshuffle since the ministers…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s state railway to construct three new double-track routes
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is advancing with plans to construct three double-track railroad routes that will span a total of 634 kilometres. The project, which will require a combined investment of 113.14 billion baht, has been approved by the SRT board and is due to be submitted to the Transport Ministry later this month. SRT governor Nirut Maneepan…
- Thailand News
Mobile Cabinet headquarters in Ranong ready for meeting
Prime Minister’s Office Minister Puangpet Chunlaiad and Government Spokesperson Chai Wacharonke took a firsthand look at the cutting-edge Press Centre set to host the inaugural mobile Cabinet meeting of the year in Ranong province. Accompanied by Teerapong Wongsiwawilas, Secretary-General of the Prime Minister’s Office, Sudruetai Lertkasem, acting Director-General of the Public Relations Department (PRD), and Supaphong Chaolaen, Director of PRD…
- Phuket News
Phuket eyes 50 million baht funding for critical environmental projects
A sense of optimism is in the air as Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat expressed confidence that the province would secure funding for two critical environmental projects. These projects are part of the emergency budget deliberations at the mobile Cabinet meeting in Ranong. The governor elucidated that each province has an allocation of 50 million baht under consideration. The funds are intended…
- Thailand News
3.48 trillion budget approved by Cabinet for next year
Prime Minister Srettha, in a post-Cabinet meeting press conference declared that the budget bill, meticulously scrutinised by the Office of Council of State, will be delivered for approval. Typically, budget bills are sealed and delivered before the fiscal year kicks off in October. However, this year’s extravaganza faced a dramatic delay, thanks to the intricate dance of forming a coalition…
- Business News
Thai Cabinet reshuffle could impact economy and foreign investment
The Thai Cabinet, currently conducting mobile meetings in Nong Bua Lam Phu – the country’s poorest province, is speculated to face potential reshuffles in leadership or dissolution in the coming year, intensifying the political activities across various Thai provinces. Such changes could pose a risk to the country’s economy, given the current administration is only a few months old. The…
- Thailand News
Government addresses public complaints
Here’s a story for the comments section. Got a complaint? The government is listening… probably. The Cabinet recently addressed the complaints submitted by the public and feedback submitted to state agencies and enterprises during the first quarter of the 2023 fiscal year. And while it often feels like complaints to higher authorities fall on deaf ears, the government claim that…
- Tourism News
Thailand to charge foreign tourists entry fee from June 1
Thailand‘s Cabinet yesterday approved the collection of an entry fee from all foreign tourists. It is expected to come into effect on June 1. Foreigners arriving by air will be charged 300 baht (US$8.79) and those arriving by land/sea will be charged 150 baht (US$4.40), as proposed by the National Tourism Policy Committee two weeks ago. Holders of Thai passports,…
- Transport News
Thailand to spend US$250 million on private VIP jets
The Cabinet approved an 8.8-billion-baht (US$270 million) budget to procure private VIP jets for members of the Thai royal family, ministers and honoured guests. Proposed by the prime minister’s secretariat and approved on Tuesday, the plan includes the procurement of new aircraft and components and the training of personnel. It’s just the latest of many curious budget decisions we can…
- Thailand News
Thai Cabinet approves electricity bill discounts over next four months
The Thai Cabinet has approved electricity bill discounts over the next four months for more than 19 million households. According to the Bangkok Post, the discounts will span from the remainder of this month (January) to April, 2023. Deputy Secretary-General to the prime minister, Anucha Burapahaisri, says the discounts have been approved to help with the high power tariff. Households…
- Tourism News
Govt to introduce 300 baht tourist fee in June
The government announced plans to introduce its long-mooted 300 baht tourist fee for foreign visitors in June. The tourism fee was originally planned to be imposed on foreign travellers at the beginning of last year but the idea was put on hold after the spread of the Covid-19 Omicron variant and details of how the government planned to collect the…
- Tourism News
Cabinet announces change to holiday calendar
The government yesterday announced a change to the Thai holiday calendar. Government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul revealed the Cabinet has declared Friday, May 5, a special holiday, making it a four-day holiday for Coronation Day. The Cabinet agreed to change the date because this year’s Coronation Day falls on a Thursday, reported Bangkok Post. “The long holiday for Coronation Day will…
- Pattaya News
U-Tapao Airport expansion plan approved by Cabinet
For tourists to Pattaya, travel may be getting a lot easier. The Cabinet has approved a plan for a massive expansion of U-Tapao Airport, the hub in Rayong province nearest to the popular tourist town. The project would grow the airport’s capability for commercial flights to land. It would expand by building a new runway and adding facilities to accommodate…
- Tourism News
Tourism fee to go to Cabinet to enact or delay
The controversial 300-baht tourism fee is set to be reviewed by the Cabinet at the end of the month. They may decide to enact it or postpone the implementation to a later date. But, according to the Minister of Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, the fee is not going away. He says it is already set in law and can’t…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s Cabinet votes in favour of revolutionary alcohol brewing act
Yesterday, Thailand’s Cabinet voted in favour of an act which will allow Thais to brew and sell their own alcohol. The law it still in its first stages, but if it goes ahead it will be revolutionary for Thailand’s alcohol industry. The “Progressive Liquor Act” aims to amend Section 153 of the Excise Tax Act which requires alcohol producers to…
- Visa Information
Cabinet announces changes to Thailand’s SMART visa
To accelerate the development of the Thailand’s “target industries,” the Board of Investment offers a 4 year SMART visa to foreign investors, executives, entrepreneurs and highly-skilled experts. Yesterday, Thailand’s Cabinet announced changes to the SMART visa requirements and expanded the list of targeted industries. The Cabinet did not specify when the changes would come into effect. SMART visa holders are…
- Visa Information
Cabinet cuts 10 year Long Term Resident visa fee to 50k baht
Thailand’s Cabinet has agreed to reduce the Long Term Resident visa fee by 50% to attract highly skilled foreigners into the kingdom. The fee for the LTR visa, which allows you to stay in Thailand for 10 years, has been reduced from 100,000 to 50,000 baht. Changes to the visa requirements could make the lucrative “digital nomad” lifestyle a more…
- Thailand News
Cabinet approves the purchase of 4 fighter jets for the Air Force
After the Royal Thai Air Force announced last week that they are aiming to buy 8 fighter jets, yesterday the Cabinet approved the plan to fund the purchase of 4 planes. They estimated a budget of about 13.8 billion baht which will be spread across the next 4 fiscal years. The Air Force says the purchase is necessary to replace…
- Thailand News
Health Minister to propose cancelling Test & Go entry at Cabinet meeting today
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will propose the cancellation of the Test & Go quarantine exemption programme to the Cabinet during the meeting today, according to reports in Thai media. The proposal will need to be approved by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, and an official order will need to be published in the Royal Gazette before the scheme…
- Bangkok News
Cabinet approves 82.5 billion baht project plan to clean up Bangkok’s polluted canal
Bangkok’s Khlong Saen Saep is in for a major cleanup. Garbage litters the waterway and wastewater flows into the canal, which is a major water transit with an express boat service running through the capital. To tackle the problem, the Thai Cabinet approved an 82.5 billion baht, 11-year rehabilitation project. The waste from the canal, which connects with the Chao…
- Transport News
Cabinet sets aside over 5 billion baht to improve Bangkok’s public transportation
Yesterday, the two biggest transportation groups in Thailand, Bangkok Mass Transit Organisation (BMTA) and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), received subsidies from the Cabinet to cope with the loss as well as increase their liquidity. A total of 5 billion baht was given, with 2.28 billion going to BMTA and 3.38 billion going to SRT. The Cabinet has also…
- Politics News
4-day no-confidence debate for PM Prayut set for August 31
Dates have now been set for in-depth debate over the move to censure PM Prayut Chan-o-cha as opposition moves for a vote of no-confidence. The debates are now set to begin on August 31 and continue over the course of 4 days, ending September 3 and will then be followed by a vote on September 4. The decision came from…
