B170bn plan to save 400,000 jobs: govt

B170bn plan to save 400,000 jobs: govt

The cabinet has approved a framework for spending 170 billion baht that would result in almost 400,000 jobs being saved, according to deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul.

The spending is to be carved out of the second 500 billion baht borrowed to finance pandemic relief projects.

Ms Traisuree said the cabinet yesterday gave the go-ahead to the 170-billion-baht spending plan which is intended to kick-start the economy and alleviate severe social impacts of the Covid-19 crisis.

In concrete terms, the spending will be funds injected into programmes to maintain employment and jobs at risk of being lost during the crisis.

At the same time, the funds will be used to strengthen the competitiveness of the production and service sectors. Also, the money will help spur demand and consumption which have slumped since the pandemic struck last year.

The deputy spokeswoman said the spending will cover a wide range of workforce segments, including small and medium-sized enterprises, farmers and community enterprises.

Ms Traisuree said the funding will come in handy in sustaining 390,000 jobs.

She added the revitalisation projects and programmes to be financed by the spending will be presented by state agencies to the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council for vetting before they are put to the cabinet for approval.

The projects must be ready for implementation by Dec 31 with details of their progress made public for the sake of transparency, Ms Traisuree added.

Meanwhile, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana yesterday said that the cabinet has disbursed 27 billion baht of the central budget to extend the discounts provided for the bills for household water and electricity.

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