The Cabinet met on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at Command Building I, Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows;
The Cabinet agreed and approved proposals made by Ministry of Finance as follows:
1. State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is authorized to proceed with the construction of the Suburban Rail System: Bang Sue-Taling Chan segment of the Light Red Line, and Bang Sue-Rangsit segment of the Dark Red Line. The Cabinet also approved State Railway of Thailand to request for loan under Section 39 (4) of the Railway Authority of Thailand Act, B.E. 2494. Ministry of Transport and State Railway of Thailand are to take into consideration opinions of Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment, Bureau of Budget, and the National Economics and Social Development Board.
2. Ministry of Finance is authorized to seek for and provide loans from domestic sources to SRT for construction cost, construction management and supervision cost, and independent engineering services including VAT. Bureau of Budget is to allocate annual budget for the bidding process services, construction demolition and land expropriation fee including VAT.
3. State Railway of Thailand is responsible for the investment of electrical system work, railway signaling system, and railway vehicles, as well as expenditure for schedule management and maintenance. SRT is to take loan from domestic sources, and Ministry of Finance is to guarantee the loan based on its deliberation.
1. Objectives: To address problems concerning railway cross sections and roads, reduce environmental impact, and create connection between Phaholyothin and Makkasan transport centers
1.1 Stations: Consist of 9 stations: Samsen Station, Ratchawithi Station, Yommarat Station, Yotse Station, Hua Lamphong Station, Phayathai Station, Makkasan Station, Ramkhamhaeng Station and Huamark Station. The routes stretch between northern station (Klang Bang Sue Station) and southern station (Hua Lamphong Station), and western station (Klang Bang Sue Station) and eastern station (Huamark Station).
1.2 Railway Track Structure System is the combination between At-Grade, Elevated, Open Trench and Cut & Cover Tunnel, and Double-deck underground structure. Title: Request for approval on temporary opening of border crossing point for construction of bridge crossing Prom Hod Canal
1. Acknowledged temporary opening of border crossing point for construction of bridge crossing Prom Hod Canal between Nong Ian village (Tha Kham Sub-district, Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaew Province) and Stung Bot (Poipet, Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia). The temporary border crossing point must be immediately closed after the construction is completed.
2. Ministry of Transport is to coordinate with concerned agencies to determine conditions, criteria, and monitoring to avoid any adverse impact.
3. Any operation must be carried out with caution to avoid security impact and damage. Cabinet’s resolutions on October 12, 1999 and May 10, 2005 (No.3) must be strictly adhered to.
4. Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Interior, and concerned agencies must take into consideration the opinions of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Economics and Social Development Board, and Royal Thai Police.
The Cabinet agreed on rehabilitation measure for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through SMEs Promotion Fund as proposed by Ministry of Finance. Operational budget will be proceeded in accordance with Bureau of Budget's deliberation. Ministry of Finance and Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion are to determine criteria and methods of assistance, taking into account appropriateness, worthiness, and related rules and regulations. The Measure is also to be submitted to the National Economic and Investment Stimulus Mobilization Board to monitor and later notify the Cabinet on the progress.
The Cabinet agreed and approved proposals made by Ministry of Commerce as follows:
1. Agreed with the documents in the 48th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) and related meetings. Should there be any amendment, if not affecting gist of the documents or the benefits of Thailand, Ministry of Commerce is authorized to proceed without any further approval from the Cabinet.
2. Minister of Commerce or his representative is authorized to endorse the draft documents.
Ministry of Commerce reported that the Lao People's Democratic Republic will host the 48th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) and related meetings during August 2-7, 2016 in Vientiane. During the meeting, AEM will endorse 21 economic documents. The documents are neither treaties under international law nor contracts under Section 23 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (Interim), B.E. 2557 (2014), and the endorsement will be without any signing. The documents are 1) 5 documents on economic progress on which Lao PDR as ASEAN chair has placed importance, 2) 11 action plans under AEC Blueprint 2025, 3) AEC 2025 Monitoring & Evaluation Framework, and 4) 4 documents to be co-endorsed by AEM and ASEAN's dialogue partners.
The Cabinet approved proposals made by Ministry of Labor as follows:
1. Acknowledged resolutions to the problem of migrant worker registration, and setting up of related sub-committees
2. Agreed in principle to extend the period of wage deduction from the workers for Going Back Fund to 2 years from June 25, 2016 to June 24, 2018. Wage deduction will take effect on June 25, 2018.
3. Agreed in principle for Ministry of Labor to proceed with receiving and sending back migrant workers, as well as providing support and cooperating with concerned agencies in order to solve migrant worker problems and related issues. With regard to the establishment of Returning and Career Center for Migrant Workers along the border and the Joint Center in Providing Assistance to Migrant Workers, Ministry of Labor is to proceed in accordance with related laws, regulations and the cabinet's resolutions.
The Cabinet approved the proposals made by Ministry of Social Development and Human Security as follows:
1. Agreed with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation Against Human Trafficking between the government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the government of the United Arab Emirates
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to issue Full Powers to Minister of Social Development and Human Security to endorse the MOU.
3. Should there be any amendment, if not affecting gist of the document or the benefits of Thailand or against the principle the Cabinet has approved, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is authorized to proceed and notify the Cabinet afterward according to the cabinet's resolution on June 30, 2015.
Draft MOU on Cooperation Against Human Trafficking between the government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the government of the United Arab Emirates aims to enhance cooperation between Thailand and the United Arab Emirates at the bilateral level to combat human trafficking, especially in women and children. Definition of human trafficking is in accordance with TIP Protocol.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) July 26, 2016 --