The Cabinet met on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at the Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The Cabinet approved the following:
1. Approved in principle Draft Revision of Revenue Code (No. ....) B.E.... (Tax measure to increase birthrate), and ordered it to be forwarded to Office of the Council of State for review.
2. Approved in principle Draft Ministerial Regulation No.... (B.E. ...) issued under the Revenue Code on Revenue Exemption, as proposed by Ministry of Finance, and ordered it to be forwarded to Office of the Council of State for review.
Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board forecasted Thailand’s population decrease from 2026 onward, and the entering of the aging society with 30% of the elderly population by 2036. In light of this, Ministry of Finance has implemented tax measures to increase birthrate in accordance with the cabinet resolution on May 23, 2017)
1. Draft Revision of the Revenue Code (No....) B.E… stipulates additional 30,000 Baht personal tax deduction allowance for the second (third, fourth…) babies who are born from 2018 onward.
2. Draft Ministerial Regulation No.... (B.E ....) Issued under the Revenue Code on Revenue Exemption stipulates personal tax deduction allowance on antenatal care and birth delivery package of up to 60,000 baht paid from January 1, 2018 onward for taxpayers who are not under other privilege schemes, such as, social welfare and civil servant system.
The Cabinet approved proposals made by Ministry of Science and Technology as follows:
1. Approved in principles the Government Scholarship Program for Science and Technology Phase 4
2. Ministry of Science and Technology is to determine criteria of the scholarship program.
3. A total of 1,500 scholarships in 10 fields
(1) Metal and Materials Technology
(2) Electronics and Computer Technology
(3) Biotechnology and Environment
(4) Nuclear Technology
(5) Technology Management
(6) Intellectual Property and Patent Law
(7) Fundamental Science
(8) Marine Technology
(9) Nanotechnology
(10) Rail Transport Technology
The Cabinet approved proposals made by Ministry of Labor as follows:
Approved grace period for migrant workers (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar) to continue working in Thailand in three cases as follows:
1.1 Case 1: Migrant workers in the fishing and seafood processing sectors who are currently under nationality verification process are allowed to stay in the kingdom and work until June 30, 2018 to complete the process. Once the verification is complete, they will be allowed to stay in the kingdom until November 1, 2019.
1.2 Case 2: foreign workers holding Non-Thai ID Card (Pink Card) are allowed to stay in the kingdom and work until March 31, 2018
1.3 Case 3: For migrant workers from Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar under the temporary measures on tackling management of migrant worker employment through the screening of employer-employee relations:
1. Those who have gone through national verification process will be allowed to work in the kingdom until March 31, 2020.
2. Those who have not gone through national verification process are allowed to stay in the kingdom and work until June 30, 2018 to complete the process.
The Cabinet agreed with the proposals made by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan as followed:
1. Agreed with the Draft Statement on “Our Eyes Initiative” project, and assigned Defense Minster as signatory on behalf of Thailand
2. Should there be any amendment, if not affecting the gist of the document or against the benefit of Thailand or resulting in any obligations under international law, Ministry of Defense is to proceed accordingly.
Ministry of Defense reported that Our Eyes Initiative project meeting will be held from January 24 – 26, 2018 in Bali, Indonesia. The Deputy Minister of Defense, as a representative of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, is to attend the meeting and endorse the Draft Joint Statement. The document serves as a cooperative framework on anti-terrorism through exchange of intelligence among six ASEAN member countries (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand). The project is an initiative of Indonesia, and was proposed at the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (11th ADMM) on October 23, 2013 in Philippines.
The Cabinet agreed with the Draft Delhi Declaration of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit to mark the 25th Anniversary of the ASEAN-India Dialogue, as proposed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The celebration will be held on January 25, 2018, in New Delhi, India. Should there be any amendment, if not affecting the gist of the document or against the benefit of Thailand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to proceed without further approval from the Cabinet and later inform the Cabinet accordingly.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that
1. The ASEAN – India Commemorative Summit was an initiative of India. It was supposed to be held in 2017 to mark the 25th Anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogues. However, India requested for the postponement of the celebration to January 2018 to coincide with its 69th anniversary of independence on January 26, 2018. The Prime Minister is scheduled to attend the Summit during January 25-26, in New Delhi, India.
2. Draft Delhi Declaration demonstrates joint political intent in strengthening strategic partnerships between ASEAN and India to achieve mutual benefits on politic, security, economy, society-culture and cooperation on development. India also hopes for the signing of an MOU on establishment of ASEAN – India Center to further promote ASEAN and India relations.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) January 16, 2018--