Govt sends back meal price plan

News > Local News

Present cooked food proposal 'unworkable'

Published: 15 May 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The government has rejected a Commerce Ministry proposal to impose price control measures on cooked food.

The cabinet yesterday told the ministry to resubmit clear details of the proposal which is seen as impracticable and unclear.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said the cabinet had discussed the plan put forward by the Commerce Ministry to add 10 types of cooked foods to its price control list.

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Forum

Your comments

bluebottle
Post : 1,582
Send message

Discussion 32 : 15 May 2012 at 15.1232
Post this to my Facebook
Jachspeat seems to be the only one who has hit the nail on the head. Most of the comments have missed the point entirely.Plus the price of electricity and water have risen.Not one comment has been made about those prices.Am I correct in saying the government has direct control of those prices but not a dickey bird about them.I know that most of the electricity is generated from oil but if they are going to subsidies the cost of petrol and diesel surely they should do the same for the power industry.It may be that they have subsidized that also so if that is the case who has got there fingers in that pie?
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
spiceman
Post : 3,561
Send message

Discussion 31 : 15 May 2012 at 13.5731
Post this to my Facebook
It is smart for PM YS to cut her loss now, as it is too late to do anything about the current runaway inflation, other than, to allow prices to stabilize. Only then, that she can know the full extent of inflation, and how much money she need to suck out of the system, through monetary policy tool, courtesy of BOT. It will take years to do that and I suggest PM YS to suspense the new minimum wage law until inflation is well under control. Doing so will help bringing back confidence on the part of the business communities by removing a controlled variable from inflationary equation, in the midst of the worsening economic crisis in the EU and the USA.
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
dao
Post : 4,804
Send message

Discussion 30 : 15 May 2012 at 13.5130
Post this to my Facebook
Its so painful to watch PT trip and stumble along .They were voted in power to lead the country not learn as they go .
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
pjt
Post : 959
Send message

Discussion 29 : 15 May 2012 at 12.5029
Post this to my Facebook
D12@bula - the differing opinion is on how to fiddle with the score not fix the problem. A real exchange of opinions should be about how an agricultural country with enough resources to grow or catch enough for self sufficiency in each food group needed for a healthy diet can increase supply to balance with demand and hence stabilise prices - we hear none of this because it is not happening. This website has plenty of suggestions to get started. Incidentally world food prices should not have a great impact on a self sufficient food economy, although essential imports like oil will especially if imported using a devalued exchange rate
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
bula
Post : 1,748
Send message

Discussion 28 : 15 May 2012 at 12.4528
Post this to my Facebook
bkk-farang #15 - Well, I took it as a compliment. I am glad that I make you laughed for a minute. At you own risk. Further reading without an open mind will make you insane.
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
pjt
Post : 959
Send message

Discussion 27 : 15 May 2012 at 12.3927
Post this to my Facebook
D16@bkk-farang - logically the answer should be at least 300TB for an 8 hour day as this is the minimum wage. That means after all rents, tea money etc etc
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
banmebkk
Post : 2,515
Send message

Discussion 26 : 15 May 2012 at 12.1126
Post this to my Facebook
@Disc 1 - Well said. Government is trying to control prices at local food stalls not restaurants. People who run the local stalls aren't exactly rich!

The government is blowing this out of proportion. If people want to save money, they can bring their own lunch bought from local markets. Rice cost 5-10 baht per pack, 1 dish usually cost 15-20 baht.
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
dragonkrz
Post : 64
Send message

Discussion 25 : 15 May 2012 at 12.0525
Post this to my Facebook
"Speaking after a cabinet meeting yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said the cabinet had discussed the plan put forward by the Commerce Ministry to add 10 types of cooked foods to its price control list."

To do it the Commerce Ministry needs:
- a creation and nation wide published copy of common recipes for the 10 controled meals, obviously all have to be approved by the Parliament
- regional prices list of all ingredients with monthly update
- energy consumption study for each meal (a high ranking subcommittee could busy at least half year on that)
- rental cost benchmark for all regions in Thailand
- and so on, and so on
I wish all of you a lot of fun and success to do it!

Is it not the best for all of us to let the market play and consumers make own choice? ... and keep politicians away of the (food) market.
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
banmebkk
Post : 2,515
Send message

Discussion 24 : 15 May 2012 at 11.5924
Post this to my Facebook
@Disc 2 Hillfarang - How about just telling the government it was a bad plan to begin with? The PTP is not perfect you know, its ok to criticize them. Yes its a good idea to give credit to all their failed policies or ideas because it really is the best for the country.
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
fundeena
Post : 1,273
Send message

Discussion 23 : 15 May 2012 at 11.3223
Post this to my Facebook
In most places in Chiang Mai Kow Soi is 35 baht but I have seen it 70 baht or more in some restaurants in farang district. What's up with that?
Like dislike 0 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment