About 16,000 elderly cabbies and motorcycle taxi drivers will each get a 10,000 baht handout to help compensate for the lack of business caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said on Tuesday.
Mr Suchart said he asked cabinet for a special payment for motorcycle taxi and taxicab drivers aged 65 and over because they were not eligible for assistance under Section 40 of the Social Security Act.
The proposal had been approved by the cabinet and acknowledged by Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob.
Mr Suchart said about 1.6 billion baht in budget funding would be allocated and disitributed to about 16,000 taxi drivers.
They would be paid 5,000 baht each over two consecutive months, or 10,000 baht in total.
Asked when the money would be paid, Mr Suchart said this would depend on Mr Saksayam, the transport minister.
The transport ministry would select recipients from those on the list of holders of public transport driving licences.