Social development
Gender
Covid-19 drives Thailand deeper into poverty
The World Bank forecasts it will take Thailand at least two years to resume its pre-Covid real growth level – already one of the lowest in the region at 2.8% in 2019 – while the pandemic promises to swell the growing ranks of the country’s ...
Daily-wage health workers seek more benefits
A group representing hospital daily-wage workers nationwide is calling for better fringe benefits, saying they also deserve a work benefit upgrade being offered salaried staff as a reward for their good work in containing the coronavirus.The move follows Monday’s announcement by Deputy Prime Minister and ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
Public Health Ministry prepares for the worst once state of emergency lifted
The Public Health Ministry is preparing more than 20,000 hospital beds and 1.3 million doses of medicine to deal with the second wave of Covid-19 infections that may hit the country once the state of emergency has been lifted.Dr Sukhum Kanchanaphimai, the ministry’s permanent secretary, ...
The Nation Reporter
Draft law on tackling forced disappearances, torture gets green light
The Cabinet on Tuesday (June 23) gave the go-ahead to a draft law on the prevention and suppression of torture and forced disappearances, deputy government spokesperson Rachada Thanadirek said.This bill aims to protect every citizen from being tortured or “disappeared” by state officials as well ...
The Nation Reporter
mRNA vaccine against Covid-19 shows initial success on monkeys
Thailand seems to be moving closer to finding a Covid-19 vaccine after the first trial on monkeys proved to be successful, leaving them strong and immune to the virus. Scientists were scheduled to launch a second round of testing the mRNA vaccine on the animals ...
The Nation Reporter
Shaking up the social security system
People who expect benefits from the social security system have marched to the Pathumwan Skywalk intersection to make their case for getting some assistance money during the current crisis.They are insured under sections 33, 39 and 40 and are asking for release of 30-50 per ...
The Nation Reporter
Our disappearing rights
It’s been over a week since the disappearance of Wanchalearm Satsaksit, an exiled Thai activist living in Cambodia, touched off a heated debate in Thai social media and beyond.Mr Wanchalearm has been an ardent critic of the current government and its military predecessor; he fled ...
Bangkok Post Reporter
Thammasat allows transgender students to dress according to their gender
Thammasat University announced on Monday (June 8) that it would allow students to dress in accordance with the gender with which they identify.The announcement, which was signed by rector Associate Professor Kesinee Vitoonchart, said the new rule applies to students when in a classroom, taking ...
The Nation Reporter
Rights groups call for government to act after abduction of Thai activist in Cambodia
Following Thursday’s broad-daylight abduction of an exiled Thai political activist in Cambodia, both country’s police forces have bluntly refused to investigate, prompting calls by critics and human rights groups, including US-based Human Rights Watch, for swift action. Human rights defender Angkhana Neelapaijit warns that Thai ...
Thailand races to create coronavirus vaccine, eyes possible medical tourism boost
Thailand: Momentum is building behind Thailand’s push to create its own coronavirus vaccine, with more manpower and resources dedicated to the effort amid hopes it could boost medical tourism.Thai trials of an experimental vaccine using monkeys started last month, one of at least 100 potential ...