On March 23, 2022, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin revealed that on March 22, 2022, the Cabinet issued measures to help people from the volatility of energy prices caused by the conflict between Ukraine and Russia that has affected the cost of production of goods, transportation, and services. The volatility has caused people to suffer from the rising costs of living. In this regard, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha, and the Ministry of Labour under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, is concerned about the workers, both inside and outside the system.
Mr. Suchart continued that the Ministry of Labour currently oversees almost 20 million informal workers, including taxi drivers, motorcycle taxis, street hawkers, and self-employed people. From the Cabinet’s resolution, such informal workers would benefit from the measures, which would help alleviate their suffering and the burden of daily expenses. The government has helped with the cost of cooking gas and electricity, and has frozen the oil price for motorbike taxi drivers, taxis, and street vendors for three months from May to July 2022. This will especially help the 157,000 motorcycle taxis in the system. Each day, about 20 people use their service. This means that the government will control the price of motorcycle fares for 3.1 million people a day, preventing any increases in the fare. Thus, the measures will help 3.1 million people daily.
Mr. Santi Patipanarat, Secretary of the Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Association of Thailand, said that they have 157,000 registered motorcycle taxi drivers with the Department of Land Transport. This group of drivers will benefit from the measures. All members were delighted and thanked the Prime Minister. Over the years, they have never been supported with energy prices. Even though we were the first to feel the effects, they never asked for a price increase. Today, the government has supported them, and they are happy. Although the money is not much, it shows that the government is sincere in solving the problem. They thanked the Labour Minister, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, who is a key player in bringing the group’s troubles to the government. That is why they were previously supported with survival bags and lunch boxes, with support to push the Informal Workers Protection Act, and this occasion too.
Mr. Anuwat Yawut, a representative from the Electric Vehicle Taxi Association, said that there are about 80,000 taxis for hire-purchase and hire-drive today. The policy to reduce the cost of living is considered a good measure by the government. He commended the Prime Minister for his intentions to solve the problem, as each remedial project requires a large budget. In the past, the government, including Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin, has supported all worker groups of workers, comprising formal and informal workers. They have had continuously good intentions for initiatives, especially during the COVID-19 situation where they were supported.
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Division of Public Relations
23 March 2022
