Bangkok: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has accepted a proposal from the Thai Chamber of Commerce to introduce relief measures aimed at reviving the economies of seven provinces affected by border unrest. The proposal, submitted by Mr. Poj Aramwattananon, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand, outlines a strategic approach to addressing the impacts on the Thai-Cambodian border.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pichai has acknowledged the urgency of the issue and plans to organize workshops involving officials from the Ministry of Labor and other relevant agencies. The goal is to establish clear guidelines, focusing on ensuring that workers with permits can legally reside and work. Additionally, efforts will be made to expedite the registration of unregistered workers and recruit additional labor to meet demands in various sectors.
The private sector has proposed several key measures. Firstly, labor and employment assistance measures include reducing social security contributions and supporting replacement workers from neighboring countries such as Laos and Myanmar, as well as other countries like Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The establishment of provincial labor coordination centers is also recommended to alleviate employer burdens and ensure a sustainable employment system.
Secondly, measures to stimulate the economy and tourism involve government support for seminars and study tours in the seven provinces to boost tourism. Lastly, tax and fee reduction measures are suggested, focusing on local taxes such as land and building taxes to support entrepreneurs in the border provinces.
The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the role of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in discussing proactive tourism promotion measures. These include supporting seminars and events in the target provinces to stimulate the local economy and increase community income. Tax measures will be considered with a focus on balancing state revenue and public burdens.
Mr. Pichai assured that the proposal would be discussed thoroughly with relevant agencies to ensure mutual understanding and reduce operational discrepancies, demonstrating the government's commitment to addressing these issues with seriousness.