The cabinet approved so-called digital wallet scheme today, under which 14.5 million vulnerable and disabled Thais will be the first each to receive the 10,000 baht cash benefit, which will be wired into their bank accounts between September 25 and 30, said Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira.
For the remaining 30 million people who have subscribed to receive the benefit, he assured them that they will each receive 10,000 baht as promised by the government, but it is yet to be finalised, by an economic stimulation committee which is yet to be set up, when the payments will be made and whether they will be in cash or “digital money” or both.
Pichai explained all the reasons cited by the government to justify the digital wallet scheme, such as Thailand’s economic growth, which is less than its potential, contraction of the production of industrial goods and agricultural produce during the first half of this year, contraction of domestic consumption over the past seven months, increased household debt, slow global economic recovery and a fall in the consumer and SME confidence indices.
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, meanwhile, advised digital wallet subscribers to check their bank accounts to see whether the benefit has been wired to them after end of September.
If not, he said more will be disbursed on October 22nd, November 22nd and December 22nd, adding that, after these three transfers, the scheme will be considered complete for the vulnerable and disabled group.
