The Cabinet was recently reported on the progress of the assistance to people affected by the political situation, by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSO) :
1. Short term
1.1 Consulting 1,095 people
1.2 Administrators of the Ministry have met and supported 2,000 baht to each affected family and gave 1,000 baht gift-set to injured people in 6 hospitals : Phramongkutklao Hospital, Vajira Hospital, Lerdsin Hospital, Chulalongkorn Hospital, Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital and Ramathibodi Hospital; 477,000 baht in total.
1.3 Supporting 17,900 boxes of instant food
1.4 Supporting 3,750 consumables
1.5 Sending 1,312 people back to their hometown with 200 baht each for meals; 262,400 baht in total
1.6 Supporting 1,477 from 1,722 effected people; 81,083,209 baht in total
1.6.1 841 slightly injured people; 16,820,000 baht in total
1.6.2 499 generally injured people; 29,940,000 baht in total
1.6.3 68 severely injured people; 6,800,000 baht in total
1.6.4 2 disables; 700,000 baht in total
1.6.5 1 extra-cure-needed patient; 423,209 baht in total(as of July 12, 2010)
2. Long term
MSO, in association with Nakhonpathom Rajabhat University, organized the “ Distress of Demonstrators Research Project” collecting and gathering information on their conditions in order to help find solutions. This research will be completed in one month.
The Cabinet also approved the additional measures to help entrepreneurs affected by the political gathering, according to the proposal by the entrepreneurs and workers assistance committee. The summary is as follows:
1. Approved the additional measures to help entrepreneurs affected by the political gathering according to the Cabinet approval on 8 June 2010, and the proposal of the entrepreneurs and workers assistance committee on 7 July 2010.
2. Approved the compensation measures for entrepreneurs, both directly and indirectly affected by the fire, including by water, chemicals, and smoke in the form of special grants and tax subsidies. Those with and without insurance policy will be compensated according to the compensation measures.
3. Approved the 2010 annual budget, central budget, and reserved budget for emergency cases in the form of general subsidies worth 600 million baht in order to proceed with the financial compensation (special grant measure). The Ministry of Finance will be responsible for the allocation and distribution as follows: (1) Entrepreneurs directly affected by the fire will receive compensation according to the size of business areas by the rate of 10,000 baht/square meter, with the maximum of 50 square meters and 500,000 baht compensation. Every entrepreneur directly affected by the fire will receive the minimum sum of 50,000 baht according to the size of the areas. (2) Entrepreneurs indirectly affected by the fire and by fire-related causes, such as by water, chemicals and smoke, will receive half the compensation of those directly affected by the fire. The rate of compensation is 5,000 baht/square meters, with the maximum of 50 square meters and 250,000 baht compensation. Every entrepreneur indirectly affected by the fire will be compensated with the minimum sum of 25,000 baht according to the size of the areas. However, if the measures cannot be completed within the 2010 Annual Budget, the amount of money will be kept until the measures end.
4. Approved the 2010 annual budget, central budget, and reserved budget for emergency cases in the form of general subsidies worth 10 million baht to the Social Security Office in order to help the measure assisting dismissed employees as follows:
4.1. 291 dismissed employees protected by the social security system will be subsidized for 50 percent of their salary by the government for six months totaling 8,805,477 baht.
4.2. Insured employees who have not met the six-month payment requirement will be compensated with 15,000 baht (one time only) totaling 630,000 baht.
4.3. 39 dismissed employees not protected by the social security system will receive monetary compensation (one time only) for 7,500 baht totaling 292,500 baht.
5. Approved the 2010 Annual Budget, central budget and reserved budget for emergency cases in the form of general subsidies worth 5,359,617 baht to the Social Security Office to assist entrepreneurs who are maintaining the state of employment as in accordance with the Association of Enterprises in Ratchaprasong on 12 July 2010. The criteria methods of compensation for entrepreneurs and employees affected by the Red Shirts’ Rally will be based on the cabinet’s earlier approval.
6. Approved the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) to propose to the Cabinet about measures assisting fire victims, in accordance with the compensation measures for people directly affected by the protest gathering and entrepreneurs not directly affected by the fire but are damaged from fire-related causes such as water, chemicals, and smoke. In terms of the additional tax subsidy measures, the committee approved to provide further assistance.
7. Approved the measures to help entrepreneurs directly affected by the protest to provide the dismissed employees with compensation after the fire on 19 May 2010.
1. The Assistance Center was opened since 20 April 2010 with representatives from the Ministry of Labor, which cooperated to integrate the task at hand. The complaint filing was closed on 31 May 2010.
2. There were 12,355 affected people who filed complaints.
2.1. There were 764 employers asking for help with 16,217 employees.
2.2. There were 3,753 freelances asking for help.
2.3. There were 7,838 employees asking for help. They are divided into those that have not received salary and those that have received some salary, totaling 4,375 people. Those who were dismissed totaled 272 people, with 3,191 people seeking consultation.
3. In relation to the cabinet’s approval on 25 May 2010, the subsidy measures have been submitted to the assistance committee for entrepreneurs and workers affected by the protest gathering, for consideration before passing on to the Cabinet. The Ministry of Labor would send the complaint documents to the committee in order to process relevant issues, in accordance with the directive of the Cabinet.
During the Cabinet meeting on June 22, 2010, the Cabinet resolved to acknowledge the progress made on the help for small businesses and people whose properties were damaged by fire, looting, and vandalism, when the political unrest took place, as proposed by Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office Sathit Wongnongtoey, the Chairperson of Committee on Help for Small Businesses and People Whose Properties Were Damaged During the Political Unrest. There have been 5 rounds of financial assistance payments to the 2,009 affected business owners, a total of 100,450,000 Baht (one hundred million four hundred and fifty thousand Baht).
1. Result of the financial assistance according to the criteriaThe Committee on Help for Small Businesses and People Whose Properties Were Damaged During the Political Unrest agreed to give initial compensation and made payment to small businesses and people whose properties were damaged. The payment was made at the Santi Maitree Building, Government House, increasing the total number of those receiving financial assistance from the government to 2,970, with the sum of 148,500,000 Baht (one hundred forty five million and five hundred thousand Baht). From the report by the representative from Bangkok Metropolitan Administration at the seventh committee meeting for the year 2010 on July 9, 2010, it was found there was no additional eligible business owner or citizen, whose properties were damaged, left behind from receiving initial compensation. The committee resolved to call those who are eligible for compensation and have not yet received the payment to come forward and receive payment by August 20, 2010, and failing to do so would mean the compensation will be returned to the Treasury.
2. Those who have registered need help from the government
2.1. Groups of those who have registered
2.1.1. 2,961 small businesses and people who have registered with the Office of Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of the Prime Minister’s Office, at the 11th Infantry Regiment, between May 21 and 23, 2010.
2.1.2. 61,828 small businesses and people who have registered with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, between May 24 and June 3, 2010. In total, there are 64,789 small businesses and people who have registered with the government for help according to the regulation and criteria that are effective until July 9, 2010. The detail is as follows. (1) The committee has paid 50,000 Baht initial compensation to 2,970 small businesses and people.(2) The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has paid a maximum 10,000 Baht compensation for arson victims to 1,601 households. (3) The Ministry of Commerce has arranged 4 rounds of retail space allocation for 2,342 shops (business owners). (4) The Ministry of Labor has assisted 3,548 employees by compensating 7,500 Baht each. (5) The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has provided consultation to 10 of those who were injured and those whose parents have lost their lives, on how to get help from the relevant agencies. (6) The Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) has provided consultation to and coordinated with insurance companies, requesting them to speed up the payment to 27 cases, a total of 98 policies. (7) Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand has implemented measures to increase liquidity to 18,300 SMEs, with 10,969 of them being approved with a total of 5.625 billion Baht.
2.2. Other needs for helpSmall businesses and people who have registered according to (1) and (2) also need other kinds of help, and the committee has sent the information to the committee chaired by the Secretary-General to the Prime Minister already. On the committee’s part, it has assigned the BMA to speed up the compilation of data, so additional measures can be considered.
3. Three additional groups of registered businesses and people whose properties were damaged.
3.1. The First Group 861 small businesses and people whose properties at Phan Fah Bridge were damaged. The BMA is verifying the claims and details.
3.2. The Second Group 8 people whose properties at Petchburi Soi 7, New Petchburi Road, Rajdhevi District, Bangkok, were damaged during April 2009 (whose incidents occurred outside the criteria, from March 12 to May 20, 2010, set by the committee). This group has made requests for compensation through Khunying Supatra Masdit, the Advisor to the Prime Minister.
3.3. The Third Group 40 small businesses and people whose properties were damaged renewed their claims at the People Service Centre (1111), the Office of Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of the prime Minister’s Office, the Government House.
The Cabinet acknowledged the report on compensation for international businesses affected in the events, as proposed by Mr. Alongkorn Ponlaboot, Deputy Ministry of Commerce.The Ministry of Commerce had organized a meeting between Deputy Ministry of Commerce (Mr. Alongkorn Ponlaboot) and international chambers of commerce and foreign operators who have been affected in the events, to restore the confidence of foreign countries towards Thailand. Understanding of the political situation that occurred was the focus, and there were exchange of ideas, concerns and suggestion to assist those affected by disturbance events. This was held on Tuesday 8 and Thursday 24 of June, 2010.
1. Short term measures
1.1 Center for Public Service of the Ministry of Commerce is a medium to request assistance for operators that have been affected by the unrest. Also, there are the : - One-stop service center of the Department of Export Promotion at Ratchadapisek Road- Business Registration Offices in Bangkok six areas at Surawongse Pinklao, Ratchadapisek, Phaholyothin, Srinakarin and Ramkhamhaeng.
1.2 Extension of deadline to submit financial statements from year 2009 by the persons filing financial statements, including companies and partnerships. Corporate foreign businesses and joint ventures in Thailand must submit a financial statement within May 31, 2010, which was extended by one more month and ended on June 30, 2010. For other provinces, if there is a problem, an expansion may be considered.
1.3 The Department of Business Development considered that measures to enhance liquidity for loans with SMEs operators have been affected by the unrest and political events. It was presented to the Cabinet to consider helping the unemployed, and who were dismissed or have been affected, as the target groups for additional measures to enhance liquidity loans to SMEs operators who have been affected by unrest and political events. Resolution of the Cabinet on April 27 and May 25, 2010 included those who faced dismissal or unemployment, those affected by the political events and intend to franchise the business out.
1.4 The Department Intellectual Property has issued measures for those who may not be able to file a petition, or application for registration, or registration of patent, trademark, protection of layout, or designs. The registration for protection of geographical indications specified during the period from May 17 — 25, 2010 was extended, as long as applicants show evidence that they were impacted by such an event.
1.5 To assist the people affected, there were subsistence bags of packed rice, dry food and drinking water distributed on May 21, 2010 for 4,000 people in communities that have suffered include Makkasan community, Pratunam community, Bon Kai community and Wat Pathumwanaram community.
1.6 Grand sales
- Blue Flag Commemoration exhibition on 15-21 May 2010 at Challenger Hall 2, Muang Thong Thanee, with attendance of 200 and approximate sales of 55.65 million baht.
- Setting up of a booth at the Royal Coronation Exhibition on 5-9 May 2010 at Sanam Luang and Rachadamnoen.
- Preparing of Blue Flag cars (Mobile Unit) to sell products by people affected by the rally including in Makkasan community, Pratunam community and BonKai community and the community near Pathumwanaram Temple.
- Arranging of the exhibition “Together We Can Grand Sales” on 28-29 May 2010 at Silom Road. Ministry of Commerce, Bangkok and Royal Thai Police arranged this exhibition to help 1650 entrepreneurs, including the entrepreneurs in Ratchaprasong, Pratunam and Victory Monument and Blue Flag entrepreneurs. The attendance was more than 400,000 people. The total income of two days is 140 million Baht.
1.7 Using measures to help small entrepreneurs
- To set up areas for shops, place for exhibition and market fairs in communities and government offices.
- To arrange the exhibition “Ground Zero” to restore confidence in Thailand on 26 May 2010 including to create jobs and revenue under the Rainbow Project, in the business of franchise and direct sales.
1.8 The Ministry of Commerce has established a public service center as a medium to receive petitions from entrepreneurs affected from the rally as follows :
- One-stop service center of the Department of Export Promotion which is located on Ratchadapisek Road.
- Six business registration offices in Bangkok which is located on Surawongse, Pinklao, Ratchadapisek, Srinakarin, Phaholyothin and Ramkhamhaeng University.
1.9 The extension of the annual financial report deadline in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathumthani and Samut Prakan to 30 June 2010, while other provinces may be extended as well.
2. Medium-term measures
2.1 Ministry of Commerce continues to stimulate domestic consumption for the economic. Booths for sales and the exhibition "Together We Can Grand Sale " were held in provinces affected in terms of trade and tourism such as Pattaya, Nakhon Sawan, Nonthaburi, etc.
2.2 Financial support for Thai Logistics Entrepreneurs
- The Ministry of Commerce and Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SMEs Bank) supported the loan for Thai logistics entrepreneurs. They can borrow not exceeding five million Baht. The interest rate is MLR = 3% (currently MRL = 7%). The last day, on 30 December 2010, is the deadline to submit the loan request for the Thai logistics entrepreneurs. (the Cabinet approved the loan 3,000 million baht on December 8, 2010).
2.3 Restoration of confidence from overseas to come back as before.
- The Department of International Trade and Honorary Trade Advisors of
- Exhibitions and participation in international fairs, to support the plan for expanding exports improve the overall economy of the country.
3. Long-term Measures
The Ministry of Commerce confirmed that Thailand is committed to the policies of free & fair trade. Political unrest could not affect the trade policies and the obligations in Thailand’s trade.
The Cabinet recently acknowledged the Ministry of Education’s approach in implementing the national reconciliation plan, as proposed by the Ministry of Education. The Ministry of Education has been implementing the immediate 3-month (July-September 2010) phase of the national reconciliation plan, the phase of which is set to launched on Wednesday July 21st, 2010, under the title “MoE Unifies for Thailand’s Reform”. The ceremony will be broadcasted live to all regions of Thailand. The following is the summary of the Ministry of Education’s approach in implementing the national reconciliation plan.
Strategies for Education Development Aiming to Build the Sense of Citizenship The First Strategy: encourage educational institutions of all levels to equip and instill the sense of being a citizen and the main driving force of the societySense of citizenship will be equipped to the following target groups. 1) Educational Institute Executives, Lecturers and Instructors, and Staff Members 2) Students 3) Communities, Parents, and Legal Guardians 4) Local Government Sector and Local AdministrationsThe lessons on citizenship will be updated and developed in order to apply theories into practices, focusing on the following elements. 1) Knowledge and Understanding 2) Skills 3) Attitude in Way to Live LifeStudents are to learn skills in listening and negotiating in terms of the peaceful culture that is based on the rule of democracy with constitutional monarchy as head of the state, through functional activities, such as, volunteering, and public services. Training programmes and seminars for lecturers, faculty members, and staffs of educational institution on every levels will be organised so that they are capable in being leading instructors on peaceful culture in their respective educational institutions.
The Second Strategy: build up network and channels to move forward and to sustainably intensify the resultYouth Channel will be established for audiences of all age and serve as a forum to encourage new generations to be aware and have skills and attitudes that are fit for being a good citizen. Networks are to be set up to connect and to proceed with the work between the government and the private sector, working on the studies of citizenship.
The Third Strategy: raise awareness and pool resources from all sectors’ participation for development in education building up citizenshipPeople, educational institutions, and organisations that serve as role models for the Thai society should be commended. Resources, including expertise and budget, for all relevant public and private agencies will be pooled in order to jointly build the future for the country.To achieve the strategies in developing the education in citizenship according to the national reconciliation plan sustainably, the Ministry of Education has divided the project into three phases. The immediate phase will be implemented from July to September, 2010 while the medium term phase will be held between October and December 2010. The long run phase will be implemented through activities organised during the fiscal year 2011 by all relevant agencies.
1. Immediate Phase (July-September 2010): 28 activities in totala. To launch “MoE Unifies for Thailand’s Reform” on Wednesday July 21st, 2010b. Development for Learning and Training: 27 activities
i. Learning Development Activities (17 activities)
ii. Trainings (10 activities)
1. Campaigning (6 activities)
2. Public Relation (4 activities)
2. Medium Term Phase (October-December 2010): 13 activities in total
3. Long Run Phase (January-September 2011): 9 activities in total
--Cabinet Meeting (Abhisit Vejjajiva) July 23, 2010--