The government is committed to allocating a higher budget to support low-income earners next year, especially through training programmes to help them improve their employability.
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said he has asked the Finance Ministry to allocate a bigger budget in fiscal 2018 to finance training programmes dedicated to helping low-income earners learn new skills and create opportunities for them to improve their quality of life.
On Aug 29 the cabinet approved a new aid package worth 41.94 billion baht for low-income earners. The package includes allowances for rides on public buses and trains, and subsidised utility bills. The scheme was scheduled to come into force on Oct 1, the start of fiscal 2018.
The package will be offered to 11.67 million qualified low-income earners who registered with the state agency. A total of 14.1 million low-income earners registered this year, up from 8.27 million in 2016.
The scheme's recipients will receive smart cards that will contain their personal information and allow them access to state assistance in the form of subsidised transport, utility bills, and staple goods from the Commerce Ministry's Blue Flag shops, student uniforms, stationery and fertiliser.
Moreover, scheme recipients who earn under 30,000 baht a year will receive money to help them meet basic needs and cross the poverty line.
The government distributed welfare smart cards to low-income earners in September and has been transferring money via them starting Oct 1.
Mr Somkid said the government in the near future will allow cardholders to buy goods from small-scale retail shops in the community, while the Commerce Ministry is also required to promote local communities to produce more to supply local retail shops to generate a multiplier effect within communities. Villagers, for instance, could produce eggs or rice and sell them to the community shops.
"The government also plans to use tax incentives to attract visitors to local communities and other cities that are not main tourism cities in a bid to promote community-based tourism," he said.
Mr Somkid said for the past three years, the government has been quite successful in laying down the foundation for the country's future economic development.
He said the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) bill is expected to be implemented late this year, while investment in the EEC is expected to begin reaping returns next year.
The EEC bill passed the National Legislative Assembly's (NLA) first reading on Sept 28 despite concern over environmental repercussions.
The government expects the EEC to drive economic growth and attract foreign investment and advanced technology transfers.
Eastern Thailand was chosen because of the region's high economic development potential, infrastructure, and transport readiness, as well as numerous upstream industries, said Mr Somkid.
Many NLA members expressed concerns about the impact of the bill on environmental grounds because the bill allows land reclamation in the sea without seeking approval under current maritime and fishery laws.
The EEC comprises Chachoengsao, Chon Buri and Rayong. Other areas can be added later by royal decree.
The bill offers privileges to investors such as the right to own land and property, bring in foreign workers and conduct certain financial transactions.