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Bangkok Limits Street Vending to Impoverished Thai Nationals
Bangkok authorities have implemented new regulations for street vendors, allowing only Thai nationals receiving welfare, restricting migrant employment, and enforcing space and safety requirements for stalls.
Bangkok authorities have implemented new regulations for street vendors, allowing only Thai nationals receiving welfare, restricting migrant employment, and enforcing space and safety requirements for stalls.
Key Points
- Bangkok authorities have introduced new regulations for street vendors, allowing only “poor Thais” to operate and prohibiting the employment of migrants.
- Vendors must possess Thai nationality, government welfare cards, and adhere to specific income caps (THB 300,000 annually) while being included in the taxation system. Each is allowed one Thai sales assistant.
- Stalls are limited to three square meters, must maintain a pedestrian walkway of 1.5 to 2 meters, and require safety measures such as emergency exit spaces. The rules will be enacted upon publication in the Thai Royal Gazette.
In September 2024, Bangkok authorities announced new regulations aimed at strictly controlling street vending within the city, specifically in the historic Chinatown area. These new rules stipulate that only individuals classified as “poor Thais” will be permitted to operate street stalls, prohibiting the employment of migrant workers. This policy is viewed as a measure to ensure that street vending primarily benefits native citizens who are recognized as economically disadvantaged.
To qualify as a street vendor, individuals must meet several criteria. They are required to possess Thai nationality and hold government welfare cards, indicating their eligibility for state assistance. Additionally, vendors must be actively settling payments for housing provided by the National Housing Authority and receiving welfare allowances through the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. Financially, their annual income must not exceed THB300,000 (approximately USD 9,060) after deductions for business-related expenses, ensuring that only those truly in need can participate.
Further stipulations include that each vendor may employ one sales assistant, who, like the vendor, must also be a Thai national. The regulations mandate vendors to seek permission from public health authorities to operate, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. To facilitate pedestrian access, each vendor’s stall must allow a clear walkway of 1.5 to 2 meters depending on the street’s width, with stalls capped at three square meters in size.
For safety, stalls must be positioned at least 50 centimeters from the road, and there should be a designated emergency exit space of at least three meters every ten stalls. These measures aim to promote safety and organization in Bangkok’s bustling street market culture. The new regulations will come into effect following their publication in the Thai Royal Gazette.
