BANGKOK, THAILAND – Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered the Ministry of Finance to remove controversial tax criteria for the state social card, a reversal following significant public criticism of parent contribution regulations.
Before departing for a visit to Vietnam, the Prime Minister paved the way for a course correction. Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas announced that the responsible committee would now examine the abolition of the tax-based eligibility requirement.
The registration for confirming eligibility took place from June 4th to 5th. Of the 8,865,427 people who registered, 8,454,728 were successfully confirmed. Incomplete information was noted for 410,699 registrations.
Restaurant chains feel excluded
The Thai Restaurant Association has sharply criticized the “Thais help Thais +” program. The exclusion of restaurant chains registered as businesses or operating multiple branches has led to massive revenue drops.
The program only permits usage with merchants who do not pay taxes or are not registered as businesses. Chain restaurants, already facing sluggish business, are particularly hard hit by this regulation.
Over 16 billion Baht in seven days
The Fiscal Policy Office reported a monetary turnover of 16,829.82 million Baht in the system for the first week, from June 1st to 7th. A total of 22,753,416 people utilized their benefits, with 306,477 exhausting the full 1,000 Baht subsidy.
In total, 26.05 million participants registered, with over 60 percent from the middle class and employed segments. More than 1.05 million small, independent retailers are participating, and new merchants can still register via the “Thung Ngern” app until July 31st.
Eggs become more expensive from today
The network of laying hen cooperatives informed its members on June 7th about a price increase. The farm-gate price for mixed hen eggs will rise by 20 Satang per egg, or 6 Baht per pallet.
Instead of 3.40 Baht, an egg will now cost 3.60 Baht. The new pricing regulation came into effect on Monday, June 8th, and remains valid until further notice.
SET Index under pressure after rally
The SET Index closed at 1,582.60 points on Friday, a decrease of 12.19 points. Profit-taking occurred after the recent rise above the 1,600-point mark, with a trading volume of 67.95 billion Baht.
The main drag was the decline in DELTA shares and the electronics sector. Disappointing earnings outlooks from Broadcom fueled concerns about investment spending in the AI sector. In contrast, hospital stocks like BH and BDMS performed steadily, supported by the usual peak season in the second and third quarters.
Foreign funds drive market to record high
In June, the average daily turnover increased to 80 to 90 billion Baht, up from 60 to 70 billion in May. Foreign investors injected a net of over 5.77 billion Baht into blue chips in the first three trading days.
The total market capitalization climbed above 20 trillion Baht for the first time. It stood at 20.07 trillion on June 2nd and 20.15 trillion on June 4th. Since the beginning of the year, foreign net inflows have totaled over 26.08 billion Baht. Gulf Development alone attracted 8 billion Baht with its planned 2,000-megawatt data center.
Controversial steel plant allowed to resume production
The Department of Industrial Works approved Xin Ke Yuan Steel’s resumption of operations from June 5th. The factory in the WHA Rayong Industrial Estate had to rectify deficiencies beforehand, most recently modernizing its air purification systems.
Inspections in March and emission measurements on April 7th confirmed that all pollutant levels met standards. The plant had been under investigation since late 2024 for allegedly substandard steel products. SKY steel was found at the scene of a building collapse involving the State Audit Office in Bangkok in March 2025. The company denies any wrongdoing.
Anutin travels to Vietnam for ASEAN Future Forum
Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul departs on June 8th and 9th for his first official visit to Hanoi. He will participate in the third ASEAN Future Forum and hold discussions with the Vietnamese leadership.
The visit follows the May 28th visit of Vietnamese President To Lam to Thailand. Both sides aim to deepen bilateral cooperation in several areas.
Opposition attacks anti-corruption agency
Opposition MPs and senators have filed a petition against the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). They accuse the NACC of improperly dismissing complaints regarding covert shareholdings by former Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob.
Opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut stated that the NACC did not conduct a thorough investigation and ignored potential conflicts of interest. The MPs are calling for the Supreme Court to appoint an independent investigative committee.
Conscription draft fails to find majority
The Secretariat of the House of Representatives evaluated the public consultation on the People’s Party’s conscription law. In 30 days, 41,548 responses were received, with 55.42 percent rejecting the draft and 44.58 percent agreeing.
The proposal aims to abolish mandatory military service in peacetime. The People’s Party has pursued this position since the 2023 election campaign under its former name, the Move Forward Party. Proponents argue that a voluntary system would make the armed forces more effective.
Birthdays and tax dispute
Anutin Charnvirakul congratulated his father, Chavarat, on his 90th birthday on June 7th. He wrote on Facebook: “Happy 90th birthday, Dad. What a blessed life you have given me.” The previous day, the Prime Minister had celebrated the 65th birthday of Bhumjai Thai MP Chada Thaised in Uthai Thani. Meanwhile, the Revenue Department is intensifying pressure on ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra regarding 17.6 billion Baht in tax debt. The Supreme Court confirmed the legality of the claim in November 2025. Non-payment could lead to insolvency proceedings.