Several political parties have unveiled policies designed for people who are over 60, hoping to attract their votes in the May 14th general election.
According to the Department of Older Persons, there were 12,698,362 elderly people in Thailand last year, accounting for 19.21% of the total population of about 66 million and it is estimated that the number will increase by one million each year.
Some of the party manifesto policies include:
- The Palang Pracharath Party’s progressive allowance: 3,000 baht/month for people aged 60-70; 4,000 baht/month for people from 70 to 80 and 5,000 baht/month for those who are over 80.
- The Thai Sang Thai Party’s pension policy: 3,000 baht/month for all elderly people, with the first batch of five million, who do not have enough income to make a living, to receive the allowance in the first phase. A free healthcare program will also be provided for all elderly people. There will be voluntary and mandatory savings programs to urge people to start saving while they are young.
- The Move Forward Party’s policy is to increase allowances for elderly people, currently ranging from 600-800 baht/month, depending on age, to 3,000 baht/month by 2027. The welfare allowance for low income-earners will be increased immediately. Bed-ridden patients will receive an allowance of 9,000 baht/month, to be paid from the Fund for Elderly People.
- The United Thai Nation Party’s policies include 1,000 baht/month for all elderly people; construction of elderly people’s care and recreation centres in the communities and tax cuts for companies which hire elderly people.
- The Bhumjaithai Party’s policies include free life insurance coverage for all people who are over 60; the right to borrow 20,000 baht from the state to start a career and 100,000 baht for their families in case they die.
- The Pheu Thai Party’s policy is the continuation of its 30-baht universal health care program, introduced by its predecessor Thai Rak Thai party. The program will be improve to cover all diseases, so elderly people can get medical services at the nearest hospital without having to wait in a long queue. Only an ID card is needed and the services will be free of charge.
