The cabinet will today consider a multi-billion baht financial assistance package to help people and businesses affected by the 26 December tsunamis.
Each of more than 27,000 small marine farming businesses affected will receive 20,000 baht. The compensation rate is for small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs. Over two billion baht will also go to owners of damaged fishing vessels.
The Labour Ministry will spend 116 million baht on employing for one month 22,000 people whose workplaces were damaged in the disaster and 45 million baht on career training for 10,000 others. About 3,000 beach vendors and masseurs will receive 20,000 baht each.
For large-scale operators, Mr Suwat said, the government would provide soft loans worth a total of 37.5 billion baht. The Government Savings Bank, the SME Bank and the Small Industry Credit Guarantee Corporation will also lend them 12 billion baht. State venture-capital funds will give out loans of five billion baht.
