The cabinet met on March 15, 2022. Some of the resolutions are as follows:
The cabinet acknowledged Industrial Economic Report for December 2021 as proposed by Ministry of Industry.
Based on the report, manufacturing production index (MPI) expanded by 6.8% YOY thanks to increasing domestic and overseas demands in various products, following the ease of lockdown.
Key industries that contributed to the expansion of MPI in December 2021 are automotive (+9.15%), petroleum refinery (+7.54%), sugar (+31.52%), electronics parts (+14.24%), and non-tyre rubber products (+16.08%).
The cabinet approved the following proposals made by Ministry of Labor:
1.Approved management of migrant workers of Cambodian Laos and Myanmar nationalities entering Thailand on Labor Cooperation MOU under the 2019 Agreement, whose 4-year employment term will end in 2022.
2.Approved in principle the draft Interior Ministerial on exemption of prohibition against aliens? entry into the Kingdom as a special case for migrant workers of Cambodian Laos and Myanmar nationalities on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under the 2019 Agreement.
This is to allow migrant workers from Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar who entered Thailand on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under the 2019 Agreement to extend their stay in the country for another 6 months to sort out their employment status and work permits, which may be extended up to 2 years.
These migrant workers, whose 4-year employment term will end this year (January 1 and December 31, 2022) will be able to apply for work permit or extension of work permit or temporary stay for not more than 2 years without having to leave the country. The extension is approved to solve the problem of workers? reentry into the country, control the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, and to help businesses that rely on migrant workers to be able to operate, thereby, propelling and revitalizing national economic system.
At present, there are 106,580 on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under the 2019 Agreement (26,840 from Cambodia, 25,504 from Lao PDR, and 54,236 from Myanmar).
The cabinet approved Thailand?s membership in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and authorized Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who oversees the administration of Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), to sign the letter of intent to apply for Thailand?s membership in FATF. This is as proposed by AMLO.
The Financial Action Task Force (on Money Laundering) (FATF) is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering. In 2001, its mandate was expanded to include terrorism financing. Thailand has been a member of Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), which is an associate member of the FATF.
Thailand?s membership in the FATF would enhance its AML/CFT role at the international stage, and promote positive image of the country?s financial system and international trade and investment.
The cabinet acknowledged the proposal made by Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the meeting outcome of the 21st India Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and assigned concerned agencies to proceed accordingly.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that 21st IORA was held as hybrid meeting on November 17, 2021 in Dhaka, People's Republic of Bangladesh, with 23 IORA member countries and 9 dialogue partners attending.
At the meeting, IORA member countries adopted Dhaka Statement which is the outcome statement of the meeting. Thailand has issued its own statement to underscore the country?s role in various aspects:
1) promoting private sector?s role on post COVID-19 economic recovery, especially SMEs;
2) enhancing women?s economic role;
3) strengthening cooperation between IORA and ASEAN member countries, as well as dialogue partners to expand economic opportunities; and
4) promoting marine economic cooperation among member countries.
Source: Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) March 15, 2022