CESA gives green light to new economic stimulus measures

The new measures, proposed by the Finance Ministry, aim to reduce the cost of living, promote consumption and help small businesses survive.

Under this scheme, the government will provide a 50 per cent subsidy for products purchased from participating retailers and street vendors, but no more than Bt3,000 per person. Those eligible for this subsidy must be at least 18 years old.

The scheme aims to provide subsidies to 15 million persons and expects 80,000 retailers and street vendors to participate.

The Finance Ministry has been instructed to come up with project details to present to Cesa, so the scheme can be implemented by October.

Meanwhile, the centre has also approved additional domestic stimulus measures under the Rao Tiew Duay Kan (We Travel Together) scheme, but adding two additional measures:

• Three new offerings for registered users: 40 per cent discount on accommodation for 10 nights per person, food coupons worth Bt900 per person on Mondays to Thursdays, and worth Bt600 on Fridays to Sundays, and a Bt2,000 refund on airline tickets as of September 1.

• An agreement in principle that civil servants and state-enterprise employees can take two days off after registering and using Rao Tiew Duay Kan packages promoting travel on weekdays. These two days off will not be considered leave.

Labour Ministry moves to create jobs for new graduates

The government’s Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) also has approved the Labour Ministry’s move to jobs for 260,000 new graduates amid the Covid-19 crisis.

“The new graduates will be split into three groups when employed by participating businesses. Holders of bachelor’s degrees will be paid Bt15,000 per month, holders of high-vocational certificates will get Bt11,500 per month, while vocational certificate holders will get Bt9,400 per month,” he said.

“The government will cover 50 per cent of their salaries, or a maximum of Bt7,500 per person per month. Businesses wanting to join the programme must be part of the social security scheme and should not have laid off more than 15 per cent of their employees over the past year.

“This scheme will run from October 1 until September 30, 2021. In case a new employee quits before the 12 months are up, the employer can replace the worker and continue receiving the subsidy,” he added.

“Only Thai nationals, aged no more than 25, and have graduated in 2019 or 2020 will be eligible for this scheme.”