'Pajom, the lonely woman' a short story by Rong Wongsawan
Young widow, alcohol, a new job as a whore; her six-year-old son has nothing to eat and starts stealing. Two lives become a mess.
More than 800.000 Thais fell below the poverty line last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a study by the Thailand Development Research Institute commissioned by Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI).
Thai households deepening in debt
The average household debt of Thais with a paid job shows a historic increase. This has therefore increased by almost 30% to approximately 205.000 baht in 2021 (compared to 2019). The main cause of this is the corona pandemic, according to a survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).
Video Undercover Asia: Suicide epidemic in Thailand
COVID-19 is not the only epidemic to hit Thailand. The economic distress caused by the corona virus is causing despair among more and more Thais.
Just a street in the Isaan
On my last holiday, somewhere on the street in Isaan, I came across a conversation with a Thai woman who was home alone with her two children.
Why do some people think Thailand is a poor country?
Thailand is not a poor country in the real sense of the word. It is one of the most developed countries in the region economically and although the standard of living is slightly lower than Malaysia's, development is much better than other neighboring countries.
I thought I read on Thailand blog that there are no costs for medicines and doctor visits for poor elderly Thai people, for example with diabetes. How long has this been? Is this new or has this been a long time?
Corona pandemic plunges 1,5 million Thai into poverty
Last year, 1,5 million Thai fell below the poverty line due to the corona crisis. Thailand now has 5,2 million poor people, according to the World Bank.
Thai household debts are rising to a record high
Due to the Covid-19 crisis, household debts have risen by more than 42 percent to the highest level in 12 years. This is according to the latest poll by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, which surveyed 1.229 respondents in the period November 18 to 27.
Poverty due to corona crisis: 170.000 Thai students are at risk of dropping out of school
The Equitable Education Fund says 170.000 students may drop out of school because household incomes have fallen. Many parents have become unemployed due to the corona pandemic.
The Covid-19 crisis has hit the elderly in Thailand extremely hard. Seniors suffer the most from the massive decline in employment, which will force most to continue working beyond retirement age or fall into poverty.
It's just before 8am and quite a few tired but determined men and women arrive at a bar on Soi 6 of Pattaya. They are not there to drink, to celebrate or to prepare the bar for another day of visitors, but to embark on an intensive but well-spent six to seven hours preparing the daily dispensing of food to less fortunate people.
A few weeks ago I saw all kinds of great initiatives from farang to distribute food to Thai people who have become unemployed. But I don't hear or read much about it anymore. Has this stopped or is it no longer needed? Who can tell me?
Ideas for the post-corona era: basic income
We should already start thinking about whether we should implement changes in social events in order to prevent or better cope with a future crisis such as that of the current corona, or another crisis. I advocate for a basic income for everyone around the world. It is the most efficient, cheapest and most civilized way to fight poverty.
Pattaya city in corona time
For people who want to know what Pattaya looks like in corona time, this YouTube video gives a nice impression. From a condo overlooking the tower of Pattaya Park, a rainy morning is the start to explore the city of Pattaya in corona time.
On the way to the supermarket (in Pattaya and by moped taxi) I see a long queue of people for food distribution at two or three places, a well-known phenomenon for several weeks. And at every row I see half a dozen white foreigners, neatly with shopping bags in their arms.
Hundreds of millions of people will lose their jobs due to the corona crisis, worldwide that will be at least 305 million full-time jobs. That is one-tenth of all jobs in the world, according to an estimate by the International Labor Organization (ILO).