The Cabinet meeting on March 31, 2020 and on April 3, 2020 at the Government House
The cabinet met on March 31, 2020 and on April 3, 2020 at the Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The cabinet approved the proposal made by Ministry of Labor on the review of social security contribution rate of employees, stipulated under Section 39 of the Ministry of Labor’s regulation on criteria, method, and condition for reduction of employers’ and employees’ social security contribution rate, from 211 Baht to 86 Baht during the COVID-19 situation.
The cabinet approved Thailand’s donation for the capital increase of the 19th International Development Association (IDA 19) for the total amount of 159.91 million Baht, which will be made into 9 installments during fiscal year 2021-2029. Ministry of Finance and the Budget Bureau are assigned to proceed accordingly. This is as proposed by Ministry of Finance.
The International Development Association (IDA) is an organization under the World Bank Group. Its objective is to provide grant in aid and soft loan to the poorest developing countries for their development programs. Ministry of Finance has proposed for Thailand to donate the total amount of 159.91 million Baht for the capital increase of the 19th International Development Association (IDA 19) which will be made into 9 installments during fiscal year 2021-2029. The donation is in line with Thailand’s standpoint in supporting sustainable economic development of poor developing countries, including those in the Sub Mekong region.
The cabinet acknowledged Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation’s endeavors to provide medical supplies in a bid to cope with COVID-19.
With the inadequacy of medical equipment and supplies due to an increasing number of COVID-19 infected patients, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, in collaboration with universities and the private sector, has proactively and urgently mobilized related research projects according to the current demand to prevent and treat COVID-19. Four types of medical supplies and equipment to be further researched in support of the fight against COVID-19 are as follows:
1. N95-equivalent- 4 research projects, e.g., development of HEPA filter masks and nano masks, adaption of silicone masks, etc.
2. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), e.g., Powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR), Surgical gown and cover all
3. Ventilators
4. Negative-pressure facilities
5. Other types of support, e.g., COVID-19 vacination, RT-PCR test kits, CRISPR-cas test kits, development of logistics system, etc.
Budget for the implementation is amount to 3 billion Baht (budget allocated to the Ministry: 3 billion Baht; and Science, Research and Innovation Promotion Fund: 1 billion Baht).
The cabinet acknowledged additional relief measures implemented by Ministry of Energy as follows:
1. Reduction of people’s cost of living and assistance provided to the entrepreneurs •Measure to reduce electricity cost for business and industrial sectors: reduction of electricity minimum charges for electricity users type 3-7 (SMEs, industrial plants, hotels) for 3 months (April – June 2020)
- Reduction of electricity fee by at least 30% for hotel/dormitory entrepreneurs who offered their businesses to be used as field hospitals for COVID-19 patients and PUIs.
- Assistance provided to COVID-19 infected fuel traders
2. Promotion of investment and energy occupational promotion
3. Provision of alcohols to people across the country through local administrations
4. Provision of cleaning alcohols at PTT stations
The cabinet acknowledged the Budget Bureau’s budget expenditure for COVID-19 situation and drought disaster mitigation measures.
According to the Budget Bureau, 158 government units have planned for budget measures related to mitigation of COVID-19 and drought disaster. After the Bureau’s deliberation, budget expenditure, that are relevant with the goals on implementation of budget measures for mitigation of COVID-19 and drought disaster, is amount to 3,726.6216 million Baht (0.58% of the total unspent and undisbursed budget), out of which 3,182.4625 million Baht is allocated for the mitigation of COVID-19, and 544.1591 million Baht is allocated for the tackling of drought disaster.
Source: Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) March 31, 2020 and on April 3, 2020