A Singaporean's guide to living in Thailand

[Froggy]

More people are bringing home prepared food to work as there's no sit-in dining at any stall or restaurant. I asked around most street stalls said business dropped 40%.

Went to buy noodle, signs said cannot dine in

My lunch in plastic bags

My $2.20 lunch in office

 

[yinyang]

With claps and chants Thais salute medical personnel on Covid-19 frontlines
National
Mar 30. 2020

By The Nation

Thai people united on Sunday (March 29) to hail the work of medical personnel and send encouragement to everyone working hard to fight the new coronavirus (Covid 19).

For five minutes -- from 8pm to 8.05pm -- in many areas throughout Thailand, people joined in a clapping activity to provide moral support with many shouting and some even singing "keep fighting".

At the same time, in the social media world, they shared a lot of clapping clips together with the hashtag #เสียงปรบมือคือกำลังใจ or #ClapBecauseWeCare

You can watch some of their videos below:

 

[yinyang]

Eggs a staple diet

Distribution of masks regulated, egg export ban extended
Bangkok Post UBLISHED : 30 MAR 2020 AT 18:05

A customer buys chicken eggs at Pak Nam market in Samut Prakan province. The government has extended its ban on egg exports, and reorganised the distribution of surgical masks - to end local shortages of both items.(Photo: Somchai Poomlard)

The government extended the ban on chicken egg exports on Monday and assigned two ministries to handle distribution of all locally made surgical masks, both steps intended to end continuing local shortages.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said chicken eggs were still in short supply domestically, so he had extended the initial seven-day ban on exports for 30 more days. The ban was due to expire on Tuesday.
About 41 million chicken eggs were produced commercially each day, and up to 1 million of them had until recently been exported each day, Mr Jurin said.

The ban on exports would end when the supply could meet domestic demand, he said.
Mr Jurin also addressed the shortage of surgical masks, especially for medical personnel.

• Commerce Ministry relaunches 200 mobile grocers
• Commerce Ministry relaunches 200 mobile grocers
• Ministry creates war rooms to handle essential goods

He said local factories were making about 2.3 million masks a day. All of them would now go to the Public Health Ministry and the Interior Ministry.

The health ministry would get 1.3 million per day, which would be distributed to hospitals nationwide, both public and private.
The other 1 million masks would go to the Interior Ministry, instead of the Internal Trade Department, he said.
The ministry would distribute them directly to the governors of provinces, who would give some, free of charge, to risk groups of people, and the other masks to local shops for sale, Mr Jurin said.

He also said the Commerce Ministry would seek a budget from the cabinet to subsidise the production of masks by local factories, to allow them to maintain production amid the rising cost of the raw materials.

 

[spotter542]

SGD$1 = ฿22.9388
Will it slide further ?

 

[yinyang]

SGD$1 = ฿22.9388
Will it slide further ?

Your guess is as good as mine. Partly due to MAS move (down) on sgd band vs other currencies:

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...s-economy-reels-from-impact-covid-19-12587788

 

[Froggy]

Thai government screws sex workers over 5,000 baht stimulus

Published 18 mins ago on April 1, 2020
By Greeley Pulitze

Thousands of Thai sex workers, estimated to be around 300,000, mostly out of work due to the Covid-19 coronavirus crisis, will receive no labour protection from the government. Empower Foundation, an organisation for the rights and opportunities for sex workers across Thailand, has sent a letter to the government pleading for help.

“Many are mothers and main family providers and carers. Due to Covid-19 the government has ordered closures of entertainment places which means that over 100,000 sex worker across Thailand are out of a job. In emergencies women are often the ones who do the work of caring for others. Yet this work is not recognised, nor compensated or supported.”

“For example, even though entertainment places are reported to earn around 6.4 billion dollars per year and sex workers create 4-10% of the GDP. Sex workers are criminalized and left out of labour protection and social security. The closure order affects sex workers who now have no income at all. Sex workers are ready to help society, but also still must pay their rent, live and care for their family.”

The organisation is yet to receive a response from the government, and it’s estimated the number of sex workers without a job across the country has now reached 300,000.

Mai Janta, a community representative of sex workers in Chiang Mai working at Empower Foundation, told reporters that they were the first to be affected when the government declared all entertainment venues closed.

“When the massage parlours, bathing venues, bars and karaoke closed we all agreed with and supported the government’s measures. Yet our kind of work means that we have zero chance of any income during this time. Also the government has shown no interest in helping at all. Now we can only follow the situation and check in on the women we know of, which is our 3,091 members across Chiang Mai.

“This government has focused on arresting and enforcing, never supporting. The labour law has never protected these women even though we contribute greatly to the economy. There are some women who are under the social security scheme; those working for larger businesses who have proper working hours such as beer girls, karaoke girls and such. But freelancers and women working in bars are often left out in the cold,” according to Chiang Mai City News.

“The government’s 5000 baht compensation, which is still not available and may not be for months, only applies to a few women, as most are migrant workers or tribal people with no Thai ID.”

“These are the most vulnerable of all. They have nowhere to go and no resources at all. What we want is the nearly 500 million baht the government seized a few years ago from the human trafficking owners of Victoria Secret and Natalie massage parlors.”

SOURCES: Chiang Rai Times | Chiang Mai Citynews

 

[yinyang]

Tourists get automatic visa extensions
National
Apr 01. 2020
By The Nation

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is concerned that foreigners seeking visa extensions are gathering in their hundreds at Immigration offices each day, said the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday (April 1).

Deputy ministry spokesman Natapanu Nopakun said the cabinet has responded with a move to grant automatic renewal of tourist visas for visitors who arrived in Thailand after March 1.

The proposal was approved by the cabinet on Tuesday (March 31) and is set to be officially announced.

People who hold other types of visa still need to go visit the Immigration office for extensions.

 

[yinyang]

New measures to control contagion in Bangkok
National
Apr 01. 2020

By THE NATION

Bangkok governor Asawin Kwanmuang on Wednesday (April 1) issued additional measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, which includes shutting convenience stores from midnight to 5am as of Thursday (April 2). The governor also sought cooperation from street vendors.

He made the announcement after meeting with the Bangkok Communicable Disease Committee on Wednesday.

 

[yinyang]

Rooftop party busted in Phuket
Bangkok Post PUBLISHED : 2 APR 2020 AT 11:36
WRITER: ACHADTAYA CHUENNIRAN

Police arrest partying foreigners and Thais on a rooftop top in Kathu district of Phuket late on Wednesday night. (Photo: Achadtaya Chuenniran)

PHUKET: Police arrested nine foreigners and five Thai women for partying in violation of the order against gathering in crowds, to control the spread of coronavirus disease.

They were arrested on the rooftop of a rented house on Sirirat Road in tambon Patong of Kathu district late on Wednesday night, after police received a complaint about a loud party.

The arrested foreigners comprised six men and three women: Australian national Al-Mouzafar Mohamad, 22; Britons Oliver Hoskins, 23, Alan Jones, 22, and Stuart McDonough, 29; Ukranians Zakharov Andrii, 27, Petriv Tetiana, 22, Chala Anasiia, 22, and Semko Iana, 31; and American Russell Robertson, 32.

The five Thai women were Nida Usen, 31 from Satun province, Boonchanok Roongruang, 36 from Trang, Supika Kitdee, 28 from Chon Buri, Narumon Thuadao, 23 from Nakhon Si Thammarat; and Wararin Jaidee, 33 also from Satun.
Police found 4 grammes of cannabis and 0.94gm of cocaine in their possession, and also seized several bottles of liquor and loudspeakers.

• Rooftop party busted in Phuket
• Phuket has 12 more Covid infections
• Phuket's Tha Chat Chai checkpoint closed

They were initially charged with violating both the emergency decree and the Phuket governor's order banning crowd gatherings.

 

[spotter542]

No charges on narcotics ?

 

[Froggy]

No charges on narcotics ?

Depends on the “fine”

 

[yinyang]

Rapid diagnosis
National
Apr 02. 2020

By The Nation
People take a new blood test for coronavirus developed by Chulalongkorn University.

The “Baiya Rapid Covid-19” testing strip uses blood drawn from the fingertip and delivers results in 10 to 15 minutes.

Members of the public can register to be tested at covid19.thaitechstartup.org.

 

[Froggy]

Visited Bumrungrad Hospital an hour ago, social distancing. Very few visitors too.

 

[yinyang]

Covid-19 outbreak dents wealth of many Thai tycoons
National
Apr 03. 2020

By The Nation

Thailand’s export-and-tourism-dependent economy, already weakened by the US-China trade war, was dealt a further blow by the Covid-19 outbreak.

The nation’s 50 richest on the 2020 Forbes Thailand Rich List saw $28 billion erased from their combined wealth, which declined 18 per cent to US$132 billion.

The list is available at www.forbes.com/thailand and https://forbesthailand.com/forbes-lists/thailand-richest as well as in the April issues of Forbes Asia and Forbes Thailand.

Despite the government’s announcement of a $16-billion stimulus package, the benchmark stock index fell by nearly a third since April 2019 when fortunes were last estimated. As a result, 38 tycoons on the list suffered declines in their net worth, including six whose fortunes shrank by more than $1 billion.

The Chearavanont brothers of CP Group, who in March successfully acquired Tesco’s Thai and Malaysian operations for $10.6 billion, remained No 1 but their combined net worth declined by $2.2 billion to $27.3 billion.

Taking the No 2 spot is Chalerm Yoovidhya, who, along with his family, co-owns energy drink megabrand Red Bull. He was among the eight on the list whose wealth increased despite the broader rout. With gains of $300 million, his net worth rose to $20.2 billion from $19.9 billion last year.

Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi of Thai Beverage moved up to the third position with $10.5 billion, despite a nearly 36 per cent decline in net worth from last year’s $16.2 billion.

The Chirathivat clan, who listed their retail empire, Central Retail, in the stock exchange in February in what was Thailand’s biggest initial public offering, saw their wealth more than halve. They slipped to No 4 from No 2 with a fortune of $9.5 billion. With tourists and domestic shoppers now scarce, Central Retail’s shares had fallen 27 per cent below the IPO price when valuations were locked in and have fallen further since.

Indian-born petrochemicals tycoon Aloke Lohia (No 26) similarly took a big hit in percentage terms. Lohia, who has been on an acquisition binge, saw his net worth reduced to $1.09 billion from $2.52 billion last year as shares of his Indorama Ventures declined 57 per cent in the past 11 months.

Despite the collapse of global energy prices, three of Thailand’s four energy tycoons grew their fortunes. They benefited from their focus on natural gas and renewable power, which is in line with the government’s goal to switch to cleaner fuels. Among them is energy magnate Sarath Ratanavadi, the biggest gainer in dollar terms, with a net worth of $6.8 billion. Sarath got a $1.6-billion boost as his Gulf Energy Development launched more gas-fired power plants and took on new projects, such as ports and roads.

B. Grimm’s third-generation leader Harald Link (No 12, $2.3 billion) also saw his wealth rise 12 per cent as his company, B.Grimm Power, increased its power capacity by 40 per cent and profits jumped 34 per cent last year. The buoyant energy sector produced one of two newcomers to this year’s list. Wirachai Songmetta (No 40, $585 million) made his debut after the November listing of his family’s biomass power producer, Absolute Clean Energy.

Medical doctor Kumpol Plussind (No 38, $610 million), founder of listed hospital chain Chularat Hospital, made a comeback after a three-year absence as the addition of two new hospitals helped push up his company’s shares.

The minimum net worth required to make the list this year is $460 million, down from $565 million in 2019.

Forbes said the list was compiled using shareholding and financial information obtained from the families and individuals, stock exchanges and analysts, the Stock Exchange of Thailand and regulatory agencies.

Unlike the Forbes billionaire rankings, this list encompasses family fortunes, including those shared among extended families of multiple generations. Forbes said public fortunes were calculated based on stock prices and exchange rates as of March 13. Private companies were valued based on comparisons with similar companies that are publicly traded.

 

[yinyang]

Amid economic gloom, some companies on hiring spree
National
Apr 03. 2020

By The Nation

Organisations that have benefited from the Covid-19 situation are bucking the trend and recruiting staff.

Worlwide businesses have been hit hard by governments issuing lockdown and other tough measures to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic, causing an economic slowdown, while many organisations have to adapt to the situation by laying off staff, allowing employees to work from home, reducing work hours and salaries.

However, some organisations that gained during this crisis, such as those in retail and logistics businesses, are recruiting more employees to meet their immediate staffing needs.

Recently, 7-Eleven, a convenience store under CP All, advertised for 200,000 employees to support its delivery service via 7-11 Delivery application.

Applicants must be 18 years or older with educational background from Matthayom 3 to bachelor's degree, able to work in shifts, and have a motorcycle riding licence. Candidates having a motorcycle will be preferred.

Lalamove, a delivery service provider is recruiting unlimited delivery drivers with a wage of over Bt10,000. Applicants must be 18 years or older, have a motorcycle with a driving licence, and not have been punished, while they have to take a training course after applying.

GET, a transport service provider, is recruiting restaurant partners and delivery drivers who can apply via its website and take a training course online.

Applicants must have documents, such as ID card, motorcycle rider's licence, copy of motorcycle registration book, compulsory motorcycle insurance, image of vehicle from all four sides, Siam Commercial Bank’s bank book, and proof of no criminal record.

Flash Express, a logistics service provider, is recruiting daily delivery drivers. Applicants must be males with experience in delivery, have a personal vehicle with driver's licence and registration book. If it is a delivery vehicle, it must be a white pickup truck with cargo.

HappyFresh, an online grocery company from Indonesia that provides delivery of goods from leading supermarkets and other stores, is recruiting employees to expand its delivery service, such as product selection staffs and delivery drivers.

People can apply via its website by filling out information, such as name, surname, telephone number, and educational background. Those who apply for delivery drivers must take questionnaires about driver licence.

Tesco Lotus, a large retailer, is hiring employees from rental stores that are affected by the Covid-19 prevention measures to become daily employees. People can apply via website or various branches nationwide.

Yakult (Thailand) is recruiting a lot of ladies to work from home. Applicants must be aged 18 to 40 with education from Matthayom 3 onwards, and have a motorcycle rider licence.

The company provides motorcycle for performing duties, and with wefare, such as educational support for children. People who are interested can contact 02-619-8008 or apply via website.

 

[yinyang]

B1.68tn to blunt Covid-19
Stimulus to avert a repeat of 1997 crisis
Bangkok Post PUBLISHED : 4 APR 2020 AT 04:00

Veerathai: Seeking corporate bonds

The government has unveiled a fresh stimulus package worth 1.68 trillion baht, with plans to issue a set of executive decrees to implement the measure to cushion the blow from the coronavirus outbreak.
The latest stimulus package totals 10% of gross domestic product, and will be funded by new borrowing and reallocation of the existing budget. The package will be tabled for approval in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said after a special cabinet meeting yesterday.

Mr Somkid said that at yesterday's meeting, it had been agreed in principle that three executive decrees will be issued to implement the stimulus package.

One of the decrees is to empower the Bank of Thailand to provide soft loans to help small- and medium-sized enterprises -- akin to what was done in 2012 after massive floods hit the country.
The package is intended to keep economic mechanisms running without disruption, said the deputy prime minister.

• B500bn third stimulus package in store
• Huge new stimulus package coming: Somkid
• Additional stimulus package a possibility

Mr Somkid added that funding sources for the package will not come from borrowing alone. This means the borrowing will be less than 10% of GDP.

According to the National Economic and Social Development Council, GDP in 2029 was 16.8 trillion baht.
Part of the money will also be drawn from 10% of budget allocations given to various ministries, with money earmarked for salaries and wages remaining intact, he added.

The Finance Ministry will issue an executive decree enabling it to draw from those ministerial allocations, while the Bank of Thailand will issue one executive decree to extend soft loans and another decree to buy corporate bonds.
Mr Somkid said that the fresh stimulus package is designed to help the general public, small-scale farmers, temporary employees, business operators and workers covered by the social security system and non-bank financial institutions.

The new package will also boost the real economy sector, which produces goods and services, Mr Somkid said. Funds will further be allocated to support the healthcare system and create jobs, as well as upgrade infrastructure nationwide.
He also said the package will benefit the financial services sector, which in turn will support the overall economy.
"With this new stimulus measure, the business sector will be confident that they have something to fall back on. If nothing is done, we will see the repeat of the 1997 financial crisis. But this time, we have learned the lesson, so we know how to solve the problems," Mr Somkid said.

Bank of Thailand governor, Veerathai Santiprabhob, at the same briefing said the amount banks pay to a financial bailout fund will be cut to 0.23% of deposits annually from 0.46%, adding that this will improve the "transmission process" for monetary policy.
The economy this year is set for its worst contraction since the 1990s, as tourism, exports and consumer confidence stall, putting pressure on the government to step up spending.

The change in the amount commercial banks pay into the Financial Institutions Development Fund will last for two years once approved. The central bank in December indicated the contribution rate could be seen as an effective lower bound for the benchmark interest rate.
The Bank of Thailand has cut interest rates to a record low of 0.75% this year and injected liquidity to stabilise financial markets.
Mr Veerathai also said that the central bank is seeking to issue an executive decree that would enable it to purchase good quality, maturing corporate bonds that are being rolled over.
The bank would be able to purchase at most half, but not all, of the debt being rolled over. The goal is to backstop the corporate bond market, Mr Veerathai said.

"The reason for the central bank to issue an executive decree authorising it to buy corporate bonds is because a strong and healthy financial system will serve as a main pillar of the economy," he added.

nder another initiative, the monetary authority will seek legal changes so it can directly offer soft loans, also known as concessionary loans, similar to a policy rolled out to help the economy after severe flooding hit Thailand in 2011, he said.
Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana said yesterday that every ministry supported the proposal for them to contribute 10% of their budget allocations to support the new stimulus package.

The government has already rolled out economic packages designed to deliver a boost of more than 500 billion baht to mitigate the impact of the outbreak on businesses and individuals.

 

[yinyang]

More than just another “DRIVE-THRU TESTING”
Bangkok Post PUBLISHED : 3 APR 2018 AT 12:47

Thonburi Bamrungmuang Hospital introduces express testing for COVID-19 infection Providing speedy results and seamless referral to affiliated hospitals

Thonburi Bamrungmuang Hospital, under the management of Thonburi Healthcare Group (THG), is now providing a DRIVE-THRU testing for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, at Level 6 Parking Lot, Thonburi Bamrungmuang Hospital, from 08.00 to 18.00 hrs. everyday. Without taking a single step out of their vehicle, patients can receive high-precision internationally-approved testing via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Test which only requires nasal and throat secretions.

The process takes no more than 10 minutes and the results will be delivered by SMS within 24 hours and also by post. The cost for this DRIVE-THRU testing is only 6,500 baht.

Patients who are considered suspected cases, such as those who have high fever, travellers who have just returned from affected areas, or people who have close contact with confirmed cases; can also seek medical attention at “ARI Clinic”, the 24-hour Acute Respiratory Infection Clinic located in Ruan Thai Building. The service fees at this specialised clinic start at 7,900 baht. For higher accuracy, patients may request a blood test to find Antibody IgM and IgG at the price of 2,500 baht. Furthermore, Thonburi Bamrungmuang Hospital is planning to provide Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) test to carry out high-precision genetic analysis of COVID-19. The cost for NGS test starts at 40,000 baht.

• Invest in tests to beat virus
• THG moves to buy provincial hospitals
• Global virus cases top a million, deaths surpass 50,000

As a leading healthcare services provider, Thonburi Healthcare Group (THG) has been preparing, both its facilities and personnel, to be ready for the COVID-19 epidemic ever since the news of the outbreak began to surface. The key to handling the situation and getting it under control is through accurate screening and separating infected patients from others, which will in turn help reduce the risk of spreading the disease to their close contacts, particularly family members and the elderly. Nonetheless, due to the limited amount of the reagents required for the test, only 200 tests can be performed each day.

High-risk individuals can find more information or pre-register at Call Centre: 0-2220-7999 and LINE ID: @THGinfo.
Additionally, in April 2020, THG is opening Thonburi Bangsue Hospital, a specialised COVID-19 healthcare facility to serve out-patients with 23 OPD examination rooms. And later in June 2020, up to 11 Intensive Care Units (ICU) equipped with respirator will become available for treating severe cases. For more information about Thonburi Bangsue Hospital, visit https://www.thonburibangsueclinic.com or https://www.facebook.com/thonburibangsuehospital/.

 

[yinyang]

 

[yinyang]

Number of people seeking unemployment benefits on the rise
National
Apr 03. 2020

By THE NATION

As many as 144,861 people have registered for social security benefits for unemployment in the month of March, marking a 41.89 per cent and 48.38 per cent increase compared to January and February respectively, Suchart Phonchaiwisetkun, director-general of the Department of Employment, revealed on Friday (April 3).

“In January, 74,775 people registered for the benefit and 84,177 registered in February. They included people affected by Covid-19,” he said.

On March 31, the Cabinet approved the Labour Ministry’s proposal to change the period and the rate of benefits that people can receive when they lose their employment due to unforeseen circumstances.

Under the new rules, people are entitled to 60 per cent of their daily wages for a period of up to 90 days if their employers can confirm that business has been affected by the unforeseen circumstances.

If a business has been forced to stop operations in line with government procedures to stop the spread of the contagion, employees will be entitled to receive 60 per cent of their wages for as long as the business is closed but no more than 90 days.

 

[Froggy]

In times like this can't sit and have a proper breakfast, sad. So breakfast on the go

Americano, bread with Parmesan cheese and chicken sausage and croissant with sausage, all fresh.

Eat in the car