The cabinet yesterday greenlighted a relief package worth 33.47 billion baht to help 6.69 million workers in 29 maximum-risk or dark red provinces registered under Sections 39 and 40 of the Social Security Act.
Eligible workers which comprise 1.43 million workers registered under Section 39 and 5.26 million workers under Section 40 will each receive a cash handout of 5,000 baht.
The budget will come from the new 500-billion-baht loan decree.
Workers under Section 39 of the Social Security Act are insured persons under Section 33 who have paid contributions for a period of not less than 12 months and subsequently cease their contribution due to death or cessation of being an employee, but they still retain their membership by continuing to pay contributions to the fund.
Workers under Section 40 are other persons who are not an employee under Section 33 but apply to be an insured person under the act, while workers under Section 33 are the insured ones over 15 years of age and not more than 60 years of age and still working as employees.
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said the relief measure will span one or two months for workers in the first group of 13 dark red provinces and one month for those working in an additional 16 provinces.
Lockdown has been imposed in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Pathum Thani and Nakhon Pathom and four southern provinces since July 12.
Chon Buri, Chachoengsao and Ayutthaya were included on July 20.
On Aug 1, the government extended lockdown and curfew measures to an additional 16 provinces categorised as strict control zones, meaning areas hit hardest.
The 16 additional provinces are Kanchanaburi, Samut Songkhram, Suphan Buri, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ratchaburi, Ang Thong, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Lop Buri, Rayong, Sing Buri, Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phetchabun and Tak.
According to Mr Anucha, the cabinet also ordered the Labour Ministry to speed up identifying eligible workers for the latest relief package.