25/12

 





THAI to request more time to finalise rehab plan

THAI to request more time to finalise rehab plan

Thai Airways International (THAI) will next week ask the central bankruptcy court to extend the deadline for submission of its business rehabilitation plan by a month, from January 2 to February 2, said acting president Chansin Treenuchagron.

Chansin said he was confident the carrier could carry out the plan successfully. According to law, the rehabilitation plan must be fully implemented in five years, after which the rehab process can be extended twice for one year each time.

The carrier has continued to see revenue from both its aviation and non-aviation businesses, said the acting president.

He said THAI planned to trim costs by another 30 per cent next year.

Govt to revise immigration, business laws to lure foreign investors - The Nation

Govt to revise immigration, business laws to lure foreign investors

The government plans to revise key laws and regulations covering immigration, foreign business and other sectors next year in order to draw more foreign direct investment.

The revisions will also cover foreign workers, excise tax, city planning, biodiversity, the movie and video business, and energy sector including infrastructure and alternative energy.

The government aims to achieve at least 85 per cent of the revisions targeted under its "regulatory guillotine" scheme next year, according to a government source. 

The Public Sector Development Commission has led the mission to make doing business in Thailand much easier than it is today.

Businesses and consumers are currently burdened with high costs from complying with these laws and related regulations, estimated to total Bt142 billion annually.

The Thailand Development Research Institute projects that the revisions of laws and regulations would lower annual costs by 55.2 per cent or Bt133 billion for consumers and 22.4 per cent or Bt9 billion for businesses.

The government is hoping the revisions will help lift Thailand in the World Bank's "Ease of Doing Business" rankings from its current 21st place into the top 10.

Foreign and local businesses have long complained about cost burdens stemming from complying with Thai bureaucracy, but the government has been slow to deregulate. Foreign investors have pressed for "friendlier" laws on immigration, foreign business and tax.



Ban on mass gatherings - Bangkok Post

Ban on mass gatherings

A festive New Year overhead greeting is seen near the busy Ratchaprasong intersection Thursday evening. The intersection is illuminated by light decorations to celebrate Christmas and herald in the New Year. Varuth Hirunyatheb

Public New Year celebrations and crowded events have been prohibited in Bangkok and many provinces.

The decision was announced by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Thursday as it announced a colour-coding system to identify which areas were most vulnerable to Covid-19 outbreaks.

Trending on Bangkok Post

Library with no staff

Chula UltimateX Library at Chulalongkorn University is fully automated, not a librarian in sight, cost-saving - and the hours are flexible.| Jetjaras Na Ranong and Saritdet Marukatat

Bangkok has been declared an "orange zone" -- and thus subject to strict measures. However, it has escaped a total lockdown.

CCSA spokesman Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin announced four colour-coded zones for Covid-19 control measures, effective immediately.

Red, orange, yellow and green are used to illustrate the degree of Covid-19 infection in provinces affected by the disease.

The red zone means maximum control and a considerable number of Covid-19 cases. The only province given this highest at-risk category is Samut Sakhon, the epicentre of the latest outbreak.

In this zone, crowd activities are banned and maximum Covid-19 prevention is imposed at workplaces, factories and workers' dormitories.

At-risk premises must close or limit their operating hours.

Transporting migrant workers out of the province is banned, transporting Thais is restricted in order to limit the impact on businesses and industries. Work from home should be maximised and online education encouraged.

Fishing can continue but fishermen and seafood must be subject to active Covid-19 tests. Affected people are rehabilitated.

Measures in the three other zones are more relaxed.

The second-highest control zone (orange) covers provinces surrounding Samut Sakhon -- Bangkok, Samut Songkhram, Ratchaburi and Nakhon Pathom. Transporting migrant workers out of an orange zone is also banned.

The high surveillance zone (yellow) comprises 25 provinces, while the surveillance zone (green) applies to provinces without infection cases.

Dr Taweesilp said New Year celebrations are banned in the red zone, unless entirely online. Public celebrations are banned in control or orange zones, including Bangkok. Parties can be held here, provided the number of attendees is limited.

In response to the CCSA order, two major New Year countdown celebrations in the capital have changed their plans. CentralWorld and Iconsiam on Thursday cancelled their countdown concerts. However, operators of the two destinations will still go ahead with their spectacular firework displays, focusing on a live broadcast as a countdown event on Dec 31.

CentralWorld's firework display will continue for at least five minutes under the theme "A Symbol of Hope".

Meanwhile, Iconsiam will broadcast its Amazing Thailand Countdown 2021 - Celebrate The Spirit of Thailand show of 25,000 fireworks along the Chao Phraya River.

Speaking after the CCSA meeting, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the CCSA has designated control zones depending on the severity of the situation so each zone could come up with appropriate measures.

"Many people have been waiting today to see whether I would impose a nationwide lockdown. We have to look at the severity of infection in each area," Gen Prayut said.

In each cluster of provinces, provincial governors, and provincial public health officers will decide which activities will be allowed, the prime minister said.

Gen Prayut said public health experts had confirmed the Covid-19 situation to be under control but cooperation from all sectors was still required. "I don't want you to panic. Medical personnel, nurses and the public health system are enough to handle the situation," he said. 

Anti-Myanmar hate speech flares over virus - Bangkok Post

Anti-Myanmar hate speech flares over virus

Migrant workers stand in front of the closed Central Shrimp Market in Muang district of Samut Sakhon province on Sunday. (Reuters photo)

"Wherever you see Myanmar people, shoot them down," read one Thai comment on YouTube after a surge of coronavirus cases among workers from Myanmar.

The outbreak, first detected at a seafood market near Bangkok, has prompted a flare-up of such online hate speech as well as questions over the treatment of millions of migrant workers.

Trending on Bangkok Post

Facebook bans Australian celebrity chef over virus misinformation

SYDNEY: Facebook has banned Australian celebrity chef and conspiracy theorist Pete Evans for repeatedly spreading misinformation about the coronavirus.

"Myanmar people are being labelled for spreading Covid-19, but the virus doesn't discriminate," said Sompong Srakaew of the Labor Protection Network, a Thai group helping migrant workers.

Shifting sentiment had real consequences, he said, with workers from Myanmar, previously known as Burma, being barred from buses, motorcycle taxis and offices.

One of the many incendiary comments on social media seen by Reuters called for infected migrant workers to remain untreated and punishment for people that brought them into the country.

The rhetoric reflects a global pattern since the start of the pandemic of foreigners being blamed for spreading the virus.

The independent Social Media Monitoring for Peace group said it found hundreds of comments classified as hate speech on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

"The comments included racist language aimed at triggering discrimination and promoting nationalism," said the group's Saijai Liangpunsakul.

After Reuters flagged some posts, Facebook said it had removed several for violating hate speech policies. Twitter said it was looking into the issue. YouTube did not respond to requests for comment.

Not all the social media traffic has been negative, with some Thais defending the Myanmar workers.

The outbreak was first detected last week at a shrimp market at Samut Sakhon, barely 35 kilometres from central Bangkok.

Since then nearly 1,300 infections linked to the market have been found while thousands of people have been quarantined.

"We feel really sad that we Myanmar workers are being blamed," said Nay Lin Thu, a 35-year-old worker from Myanmar who has now volunteered to help others.

"We are told 'this happened because of you Myanmar'. Mostly we do not respond but some of us couldn't contain their anger."

Officially, Thailand has nearly 1.6 million Myanmar workers, but the real figure is higher because of illegal immigration. Most migrants are labourers or work in service industries.

"Thai people won't take the jobs they are doing," Taweesilp Visanuyothin, of the Covid-19 taskforce, said as he pleaded for tolerance in a televised broadcast. "Today they are our family... Both Myanmar and Thai people are Buddhists."

A video clip of a Myanmar migrant worker wiping his tears while listening to Dr Taweesilp went viral on social media.

Thailand has traditionally been seen as tolerant of foreigners, but a historic enmity has been revived on social media with references to the 18th-century destruction by Burmese forces of Ayutthaya, capital of what was then known as Siam.

Myanmar has suffered a much more severe coronavirus outbreak, with over 2,500 dead from nearly 120,000 confirmed cases compared with 60 fatalities from over 5,800 cases in Thailand.

How the new cases first appeared in Thailand is unclear.

Panpimol Wipulakorn, director-general of the Department of Mental Health, urged Thais to give migrant workers moral support and not blame them for the new wave of infections in the kingdom. Cooperation will help curb the virus, he said.

A Myanmar woman in a clip circulated online said no one knew who imported the virus into the kingdom, adding her compatriots love Thailand as much as Thais.



25/12



Anutin champions the wearing of face masks once again - everything is under control - Thai Visa

Anutin champions the wearing of face masks once again - everything is under control

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Thailand's DPM and health minister Anutin Charnvirakul has once again told the public to continue to wear face masks.

 

The pandemic's early days featured the minister famously criticising a foreigner who wouldn't accept his offer of a free mask. 

 

Yesterday at health ministry HQ he was attempting to calm everyone as the country faces a renewed outbreak of Covid-19.

 

He held up a mask and declared that "covering the face means not closing down the country"

 

(This was a play on words in the Thai language regarding the word "pit" to cover and to close).

 

He also said that "observing social distancing would mean you wouldn't have to be treated for the disease".

 

(This was a play on the word "raksaa" used for both treating and observing). 

 

His mantra was once again a call for 100% mask wearing, social distancing and hand washing. 

 

He also took a swipe at fake news saying that people should get their news from official sources to avoid stressing themselves out and causing the authorities unnecessary stress and the need to combat erroneous reports. 

 

He said that the public could have total faith in the health authorities and their efficiency rejecting suggestions to the contrary. Everyone in the public health arena is pulling out all the stops to treat those infected and protect the rest. 

 

Regarding the movement of workers (principally migrants) he said that was a matter for the police, military and Labour Ministry.

 

Source: Daily News

 

 





No national lockdown in Thailand: Prayut - Thai Visa

No national lockdown in Thailand: Prayut

 

 

Prime minister Prayut said on Thursday there is no national lockdown order planned for Thailand, although the government will "intensify" measures following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Samut Sakhon.

 

Speculation had mounted in recent days that Thailand would be plunged into lockdown after more than 1,000 cases had been reported in the country since Saturday, the majority of which are linked to an outbreak amongst migrant workers in Samut Sakhon.

 

However, speaking ahead of the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration briefing, the PM said there were no plans to place the whole country in lockdown.

 

Instead, a new category system will be implemented in order to declare areas of risk throughout the country.

 

 Red [Highly controlled]: High infection rate and at more than 1 location. 

 

Orange [Controlled areas]: Located close to the red zone or more than 10 cases or growing rate of infections

 

Yellow [Under high surveillance]: Less than 10 cases

 

Green [Under surveillance]: No cases

 

Provinces in Red zone [Highly controlled]: 

Samut Sakhon - requires urgent contact tracing, use of tracing apps, restriction of business opening times, close of non-essential business and cancellation of events and public gatherings. Check points remain in place. 

 

Provinces in Orange zone [Controlled areas]: 

Samut Songkhram, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom & Bangkok - No cross-provincial movement of migrant workers. Mass events are discouraged, but not banned, 

 

Provinces in Yellow zone [Under high surveillance]: 

Angthong Ayutthaya, Chachoengsao, Chainat, Chaiyaphum, Kamphaeng Phet, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan,Nonthaburi,Pathum Thani, Petchaburi, Phetchabun, Phichit, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phuket, Prachinburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Samut Prakan, Saraburi, Suphanburi, Surat Thani, Udon Thani, Uttaradit - Less restrictive than previous measures, people advised to work from home where possible but not mandatory.

 

Provinces in Green zone [Under surveillance]:

All remaining provinces - Regular COVID-19 measures in place

 

At the time of posting there has been no announcement regarding restrictions on the sale of alcohol or the closing of bars, pubs or restaurants. Any restrictions of this kind are only likely if a province is determined to be a 'red zone'.

 

Meanwhile, it has also been announced that the CCSA will resume its English language briefings from today (24 Dec).

 

** This is a developing story. This post will be updated without notice

 

 

 

Chonburi records 1st Covid-19 case in van of illegal Cambodian laborers - Pattaya Mail

Chonburi records 1st Covid-19 case in van of illegal Cambodian laborers

Pattaya MailDecember 24, 2020

Gov. Pakarathorn Thienchai said Chonburi has recorded its first coronavirus case since the Samut Sakhon seafood-market outbreak but stressed that Chonburi is still a safe travel destination, and that the province, which includes Pattaya, is not in lockdown.

Chonburi recorded its first coronavirus case since the Samut Sakhon seafood-market outbreak when police intercepted a van of illegal Cambodian migrant laborers, one of whom tested positive for Covid-19.

The 11 illegals were in a crowded minivan when they were stopped at a checkpoint in Panthong District. All the occupants were tested, with a 19-year-old woman testing positive for the coronavirus, Gov. Pakarathorn Thienchai said in a Wednesday briefing.



Village health volunteers also identified two people who visited the Central Shrimp Market in Samut Sakhon where the outbreak originated. Health officials are now waiting for test results, the governor said.

Pakarathorn stressed that Chonburi is still a safe travel destination and that the province, which includes Pattaya, is not in lockdown. He advises potential tourists to follow good hygiene practices like using masks and hand sanitizer. While large public gatherings have been suspended, smaller events, such as weddings and religious gatherings can still take place as long as organizers notify local officials and limit crowd sizes.

Business owners who employ migrant laborers and recently traveled to Samut Sakhon should take employees to local clinics or hospitals for Covid-19 tests, Pakarathorn said. And anyone else who traveled to the district or fear they may have had contact with someone who did can get free tests at government clinics and hospitals.

The governor advised residents to monitor the situation on the Chonburi website and Facebook page, urging them not to fall victim to fake news or rumors. 

27 MILLION Thais have lost their income - Bangkok Jack

27 MILLION Thais have lost their income

December 24, 2020

At least 27 million workers lost their job as a result of the pandemic. The government has promised 5,000 baht to Thais, but not foreign migrants. Many survive thanks to charities.

The sight of long lines of unemployed getting free food provided by Buddhist or Christian charities has become commonplace since the COVID-19 pandemic badly impacted the capacity of informal workers to make a living.

At least 27 million of them have lost their job in tourism, entertainment, food and service sectors.

With air travel at a standstill and tens of millions of tourists no longer coming because of the coronavirus, the economy has turned into a desert as jobs and wages vanished.

Given the situation, the mass of the unemployed have turned to the government for help.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has promised a monthly subsidy of 5,000 baht (about US$ 153), but so far only half of the 27 million have received something.

It is unclear how long the government can provide this assistance.

The situation is even more worrying for foreign migrants since government assistance is limited to Thai workers.

Whilst waiting for the government to provide aid, the unemployed are queuing up at charities for rice, noodles, milk and curry packets.

It is estimated that the Thai economy will experience its worst contraction (7.7 per cent) since the Asian financial crisis of 1998. 

LATEST #COVID19 update for #Thailand - Richard Barrow in Thailand

 LATEST #COVID19 update for #Thailand
🔴 A large number of infected people & more than one area.
🟠 Close to red areas or more than 10 infected people and have more that are likely to be infected.
🟡 Not more than 10 people with an ability to control the situation.
🟢 No person infected

🔴 Samut Sakhon
🟠 Samut Songkhram, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom & Bangkok
🟡 Saraburi, Samut Prakan, Suphanburi, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Uttaradit, Chachoengsao, Petchaburi, Phetchabun, Ayutthaya, Phuket, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachinburi, Krabi, Khon Kaen, Chainat, Udon Thani, Phichit Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Sawan and Angthong
🟢 All other provinces

‪#COVID19 #โควิด19 #Thailand‬

” Skogsskövling ”

Hej !
Vegetationen mellan PT och SCAN är på god väg att jämnas med marken ! Enligt uppgift görs detta av skattetekniska skäl och inte m.a.a planerade byggnationer men det återstår väl att se.....🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭.....
Dagen till ära - GOD JUL !!!!


Läget idag 24/12 😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥



Thai immigration: Where do things stand? - Bangkok Post

Thai immigration: Where do things stand?

A topic on the mind of many expats in Thailand, aside from the COVID-19 pandemic, is the current state of immigration rules for the Kingdom. There are a number of foreign nationals still attempting to gain admission to Thailand. Meanwhile, those who have been able to gain access to Thailand, and who have business activities in the region, are trying to assess travel options moving forward.

Therefore, a brief synopsis of the state of play is in order:

Visa Exemption

The Thai visa exemption stamp (sometimes referred to colloquially as the 30 day visa stamp) is again a possibility for those seeking admission to Thailand. The exemption period is, as of the time of this writing, currently being extended to a total of 45 days for those arriving in Thailand from certain countries.

Thai Tourist Visas

Presently, there appear (and appear is the operative word as the practicalities of consular processing protocols at Thai Embassies and Consulates overseas vary) to be multiple options for prospective tourists, with more alternatives possibly on the ways. The standard SETV (Single Entry Tourist Visa, sometimes also referred to as TR) is not widely available throughout the world and there are a number of foreign nationals using this to enter Thailand as of the time of this writing. Concurrently, the Thai government has taken recent steps to allow broad application for the newly promulgated STV (or Special Tourist Visa). Unlike the SETV, which only provides 60 days of lawful status with the option to extend by 30 days, the STV provides the bearer with the option of extending their status to a maximum duration of a possible 270 days (or 9 months).

Non-Immigrant B, O, and O-A Visas

The Thai government began allowing admission to Thailand for those business visa holders with work authorisation as early as July 2020. At the time, and presently, those wishing to enter Thailand for business purposes are likely required to have work authorisation either in the form of an issued Thai work permit or a WP3 work preauthorisation letter.

Shortly after Immigration authorities permitted the returning of B visa holders, O visa holders who were immediate family of Thai nationals were permitted access to Thailand. Finally, in the late summer, those with Thai retirement visas could enter or return to Thailand. There was initially some confusion regarding whether those holding a Thai O retirement visa (as opposed to the Thai O-A retirement visa) would be permitted admission to Thailand. After some delay, this matter seems to have been resolved and those with a Thai retirement visa, of either O or O-A designation, were deemed admissible to Thailand. 

As of the time of this writing, the posture of all of the above visa categories remains unchanged and those seeking admission under the above categories may seek admission to Thailand.

ED Visas

Those seeking Education visas to Thailand are currently admissible, but the criteria for ED visa issuance is apparently truncated compared to times past. Where once it may have been possible to obtain an ED visa for language study in Thailand, it now appears that only those enrolled at the University level are currently eligible for an ED visa.

A Note on Conversion of Status

An issue that has been raised by a number of prospective travellers and expat returnees is: can I change my visa status once I'm in Thailand? The short answer: that course of action does not have a foregone conclusion. Therefore, one traveling to Thailand in retirement status may find it difficult to convert their status to B visa status in-country. The difficulty arises from the legal presumptions inherent to the Thai non-immigrant visa categories. Those traveling to Thailand in tourist or non-immigrant visa status are presumed to be temporary guests of the Kingdom for the specific purpose stipulated in their visa. This presumption therefore posits that those wishing to change their status depart the Kingdom, obtain a new visa pursuant to the terms of their prospective re-entry, and return to Thailand under this new status. Obviously, this paradigm was shaped by the travel circumstances which existed in a world prior to the local and global response to COVID-19. Notwithstanding the fundamental logistical difficulties which have come about due to current travel restrictions, Thai Immigration policy remains as it has always been and the presumption that those entering on a specific visa status should either maintain that status or depart the country in order to change status remains. Under certain circumstances, it may be possible to convert one's visa status from one category of non-immigrant visa to another or from a tourist visa to a non-immigrant visa, but this can only come about as a direct consequence of a favourable use of an Immigration officer's discretion and the reasons for such a conversion should be compelling. For this reason, it is very sound advice for those seeking entry to Thailand to seek the visa that they wish to maintain for the foreseeable future from the outset rather than attempting to use one visa category merely as a temporary expedient to gain access to the Kingdom. 

With respect to Special Tourist Visas it has been explicitly noted that holders of these visas are affirmatively barred from seeking a change of status in Thailand.

Certificates of Entry and Quarantine

Regardless of the visa category a foreign national is using, including a visa exemption, certificates of entry are still required in order to eligible to board a flight and be admitted to Thailand. Quarantine is also mandatory for all individuals, including Thai nationals, being admitted from abroad. Presently, foreigners are required to undergo quarantine in an Alternative State Quarantine facility for a period of 14 days.

---

Author: Benjamin W. Hart, Managing Director, Integrity Legal (Thailand) Co. Ltd. 

Email: info@legal.co.th and www.legal.co.th  

With 39 New Local Cases, Covid-19 Outbreak Creeps Across Thailand - Bangkok Herald



With 39 New Local Cases, Covid-19 Outbreak Creeps Across Thailand

23 December 2020

Like cracks on a windshield, the coronavirus outbreak that began at a Samut Sakhon seafood market continues to creep across Thailand, with cases popping up in 17 provinces, four of which have now imposed limited lockdowns.

The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Wednesday reported 39 new cases locally transmitted among Thais, plus another seven returnees in quarantine. In a face-saving move, the CCSA said it will now release the number of positive tests among Burmese migrant workers separately.

The dehumanizing tactic, first used by Singapore during this summer's migrant-dormitories outbreak, empowers the "Us vs. Them" mentality sweeping Thailand and perpetuates the belief Burmese lives are worth less than Thais, despite platitudes from the CCSA's spokesman.

"I want everyone to view them as family," Dr. Taweesin Visvanathan told the media this morning. "They have been helping us in driving our economy for a very long time. When family members are sick, we have to take care of them. Don't hesitate to help by donating or providing necessities since they are living in hard times."

The outbreak may have started in the crowded dorms of the Mahachai fresh market, but it's Thais who are taking the virus nationwide. New local cases were reported in Bangkok (11), Chachoengsao (5), Nakhon Pathom (3), Kamphaeng Phet (2), Tak (2), Prachin Buri (2), Ayutthaya (2), Samut Prakan (2), Saraburi (2), and one each in Phetchabun, Krabi, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phuket and Suphan Buri.

Not yet included in the official totals is a Nakhon Si Thammarat woman who tested positive after returning from Samut Sakhon.

Officially, the number of confirmed cases rose to 5,762 – 1,394 in quarantine. Of those, 1,607 are in hospital and ad-hoc quarantine facilities while 4,095 have recovered and 60 died.

Four provinces have imposed limited to serious lockdowns, with Samut Sakhon escalating its previous order to declare the entire province a "quarantined area"  through Jan. 3. Sports stadiums, public parks and educational institutions are now closed. Restaurants can only offer takeaway service and grocery stores must be close from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

In Samut Songkhram Province, adjacent to Samut Sakhon, Gov. Charas Boonnasa on Tuesday night ordered all schools, including nurseries, cinemas, shopping malls (except supermarkets), drug stores and food halls, closed until Jan. 4. The province has confirmed six cases, all linked to Samut Sakhon.

Samut Prakan has closed all its public venues and canceled events until Jan. 4. And Chiang Mai has clamped a lockdown in three subdistricts – Tha Ton, Malika and Mae Ai – following new local cases unconnected to Samut Sakhon.

In fact, only 30 of the 39 new cases reported today were tied to the seafood market. The North continues to find cases linked to neighboring Myanmar, illegal immigrants and Thais who crossed the border illegally and skipped quarantine.

Others included two Chinese nationals, a businessman and a tourist in Bangkok, two Myanmar nationals, a housewife in Krabi and a department store employee in Tak.



23/12