New COVID-19 wave in Thailand drives over 100,000 out of work
More than 100,000 employees in Thailand have lost their jobs or been suspended from work as over 6,000 businesses in 28 red-zone provinces closed in the wake of the new COVID-19 outbreak.
A health worker sprays disinfectant at a market in Samut Sakhon province of Thailand (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)– More than 100,000 employees in Thailand have lost their jobs or beensuspended from work as over 6,000 businesses in 28 red-zone provinces closed inthe wake of the new COVID-19 outbreak.
Thai Minister of LabourSuchart Chomklin said that insured workers left unemployed due to the pandemiccould begin applying for compensation payments from January 4.
The payment system hasbeen improved to ensure employees receive compensation more quickly than thefirst outbreak early last year, he added.
Thai authorities andhealth workers are racing to curb the spread of a new wave of local infections.Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has imposed a new set of restrictions on businessactivities and gatherings in Bangkok and 27 of its worst-affected provincesfrom January 4 to contain the outbreak.
The Joint StandingCommittee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) plans to reassess Thailand'seconomic outlook in 2021 as stronger state measures against the new outbreakhave begun to affect employment in at-risk provinces.
A surge in dailyinfections since late last year, with a record of 745 new cases on January 4, illustratedthat several business sectors, particularly restaurants, are suffering.
The situation promptedthe JSCCIB to reconsider the impact of the pandemic on the economy, said SupantMongkolsuthree, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
Last month, the JSCCIBsaid it expected a better economic outlook in 2021, with exports expanding by3-5 percent, GDP growing by 2-4 percent and inflation to be kept at 0.8-1.2percent.
As of January 4,Thailand had logged a total 8,439 COVID-19 infections, with a death toll of65./.
Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has declared stricter measures for 28 "red zone" provinces, including the capital of Bangkok, amid COVID-19 spikes across the country.
Thailand’s Ministry of Finance this year will focus on three areas to revive the national economy amid slower-than-expected recovery and a second wave of COVID-19.
A committee under the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on January 4 approved the extension of the Emergency Decree nationwide until the end of February.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
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The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
A health worker sprays disinfectant at a market in Samut Sakhon province of Thailand (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
