– The monthly allowance is a basic right of all Thai citizens who are at least 60 years of age. The elderly monthly allowance does not overlap with the welfare cards introduced during the government of outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. If the government restricts the monthly allowance to about 5 million welfare cardholders, about 6 million elderly people currently receiving the payments will be deprived of their right to receive them.
– The government cannot achieve financial stability by reducing social-welfare spending. Instead, it should levy new taxes to reduce the income gap, including a wealth tax, capital gains tax, and land-vacancy tax. The protesters also urged the government to make the taxation system more efficient and less favourable to high-income earners.
