The Ministry of Labour has made an exciting announcement that promises a myriad of enhanced benefits for Social Security Fund (SSF) members starting next year, including a more generous allowance during maternity leave. Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has outlined new guidelines for managing the SSF for the upcoming year. One of the major changes in the pipeline involves a legal amendment under the Social Security Act, which will extend the period for subscribers to receive social security benefits. Among the significant improvements is the extension of the social security contribution period. At present, subscribers contribute until they reach the age of 60, but this cap will be raised to 65 years old. This change means that SSF members will be better positioned to enjoy more substantial benefits in their later years. According to Mr. Phiphat, expanded benefits are also set to be offered to private company employees covered by Section…
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In an ambitious move to enhance the infrastructure along Rama II Road, Caretaker Transport Minister Suriya Juengrungreangkit has set a firm deadline for the completion of three major construction projects by June next year. These projects, critical for the highway that connects bustling Bangkok to the serene provinces of Southern Thailand, promise to transform travel and logistics in the area. Mr. Suriya revealed to the media on Wednesday that there are currently three ongoing projects along Highway 35, popularly known as Rama II Road. These include the Rama III-Dao Khanong-Western Outer Ring Expressway project, the Bang Khunthian-Ekkachai road construction project, and the mammoth Ekkachai-Ban Phaeo motorway section. The prominent Rama III-Dao Khanong-Western Outer Ring Expressway project, managed by the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat), is already an impressive 80% complete. Once finished, it will significantly streamline traffic flow, with its grand opening slated for June of the coming year. Meanwhile,…
Hylife Developments Co., Ltd., an integral part of Hylife Group Chiang Mai under the visionary leadership of Group CEO Mr. Shubhodeep Das, has clinched a distinguished accolade at the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) 2024 Regional Edition. The grand event, masterminded by Enterprise Asia, was a glittering affair held on the 30th of August 2024 at the opulent Bangkok Marriott Hotel the Surawongse. Adding a touch of international gravitas, the award was graciously presented by H.E. Datuk Jojie Samuel, the Malaysian Ambassador to Thailand, along with Lt. General Sudhir Sharma, an advisor to Enterprise Asia. The Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) are renowned for spotlighting exceptional organisations across the massive Asia-Pacific region. This year, the competition was fiercer than a jungle cat with over 150 companies from 16 diverse nations vying for accolades in four broad categories: Master Entrepreneur, Inspirational Brand, Fast Enterprise, and Corporate Excellence. Out of this fiercely…
The corridors of Thai politics have seldom seen a character as steadfast as Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin. This week, Mr. Somsak firmly shut down a chorus of requests from health experts, urging a review of the much-discussed 30-baht gold card scheme. “We have no intention of revisiting the co-payment plan,” declared Mr. Somsak with a tone that left no room for ambiguity. Facing an eager assembly of reporters, Mr. Somsak was interrogated on whether the universal healthcare scheme could withstand the mounting pressure from a network of hospitals and medical professionals. This collective has been vocal about the increasing strain placed upon state-run hospitals, citing a barrage of patient influx, skeletal staffing, and escalating financial deficits. The call for reform aimed at ensuring the financial sustainability of the scheme has grown louder by the day. Let us rewind two decades to the inception of this ambitious populist policy, birthed…
The Seub Nakhasathien Foundation has urged Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to investigate the credentials of Chalermchai Sri-on, the newly appointed Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, concerning his alleged possession of 120 rai of state land. According to recent media revelations, the foundation emphasized the necessity for those overseeing natural resources to clear themselves of any connections to state land holdings. Chalermchai, the leader of the Democrat Party, was recently appointed to his ministerial position, sparking widespread criticism among the officials now expected to serve under his leadership. Back in 2008, Chalermchai declared his assets, among which was Phor Bor Tor 5 land—essentially a tax payment document issued to local authorities without conferring legal ownership rights—for an area totaling 120 rai. However, when he assumed the role of Labour Minister in 2010, he did not declare his possession of this land. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is said to be…
PHUKET: The air was thick with anticipation at the provincial hall on March 1st as a crowd awaited the decision concerning Urs Fehr, a Swiss national entangled in a courtroom drama. Fehr and his Thai wife stood firm, hopes pinned on the court’s verdict, spotlighted by the keen-eyed media. The culminated judgment reached out onto the public platform on Wednesday, swinging in favor of Mr. Fehr. The courtroom’s gavel fell, announcing the acquittal of 45-year-old Urs Fehr. He had been accused of allegedly kicking Dr. Thandao Chandam, a 26-year-old doctor, during a full moon night at Yamu beach. As the incident unfurled, accusations led to a heated debate, ultimately leading to a trial that challenged assumptions and dug deep into evidence, or rather, the lack thereof. It was a picturesque night on February 24th at Yamu beach. The moon bathed the steps in a silvery hue near Fehr’s rented villa.…
Mongkol “Busbas” Thirakot is currently being held in Chiang Rai Central Prison. (Photo: iLaw) An appeal court on Wednesday upheld the conviction of a Chiang Rai clothing vendor in a third lese-majeste case, escalating his total prison time for the offences to an unprecedented 54 years and 6 months, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). Mongkol “Busbas” Thirakot had previously been sentenced in two other lese-majeste cases to an aggregate of 50 years in prison, which was also upheld on appeal. “This is by far the longest prison sentence given to a Section 112 defendant, based on available information,” TLHR stated on Wednesday, referencing the section of the Criminal Code that pertains to royal defamation. In the latest case, the Court of Appeal Region 5 confirmed the earlier conviction by the Chiang Rai Provincial Court, finding Mongkol guilty of two counts of lese-majeste and one count of trespassing,…
The newly appointed cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is gearing up for a special meeting on Saturday to outline a policy statement that will set the government’s agenda. With His Majesty the King giving his nod to the 35-member cabinet, the official roster of ministers was published in the Royal Gazette on Wednesday. Ms. Paetongtarn and her cabinet are slated to take the oath of office at the elegant Ambara Villa in Dusit Palace at 5 PM this Friday. In compliance with protocol, the government needs to present its policy statement to the parliament before taking any concrete steps. Ms. Paetongtarn is poised to deliver this crucial statement on September 11, marking the beginning of her official tenure on September 16. The first official cabinet meeting is scheduled for September 17, right before the Pheu Thai Party’s much-anticipated digital wallet handout kicks off, aimed at boosting…
In a remarkable turn of events, public health officials in Thailand have announced the recovery of the first confirmed case of the mpox clade Ib variant detected in the country. The fortunate patient, a 66-year-old European male who embarked on his journey from Africa, touched down in Bangkok on August 14th, and was promptly hospitalized the next day after exhibiting symptoms. On August 15th, just a day after his arrival in the bustling city of Bangkok, the man was admitted to a hospital where rigorous lab tests confirmed that he had contracted the clade Ib variant of the mpox virus. Yet, through diligent medical care and the patient’s resilience, his wounds have now fully healed, allowing him to be discharged from the hospital and return home triumphantly. “The patient’s current state of health is a testament to the effectiveness of our medical interventions,” stated Dr. Thongchai Keeratihatthayakorn, the esteemed director-general…
An elderly man defiantly swims out to collect relief supplies in the Bang Ban district of Ayutthaya. His home had been submerged for weeks in 2021. (File photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill) The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has issued a stark warning to residents in parts of Ayutthaya, urging them to brace for impending flash floods due to an unrelenting surge in the Chao Phraya River. Authorities are vigilantly monitoring two primary water stations to gauge the situation. Declared on Wednesday, the RID cautioned those living near Khlong Phong Pheng in Ang Thong and the banks of Khlong Bang Ban in the Bang Ban district, alongside the neighboring areas of Phak Hai district in Ayutthaya. These regions, nestled in low-lying plains, are at a heightened risk of flooding. Amid the brewing storm, the ‘Ayutthaya Station’ Facebook page has erupted in criticism, lambasting the government’s inadequate compensation for residents already grappling with rising…