So far, 28.8 million people have already applied for the 5,000 baht/month cash subsidies, under the “Rao Mai Thing Kan” (We Do Not Leave You Behind) scheme.

But only 13.4 million have passed the qualification screening, leaving thousands queuing in lengthy lines as they wait to file complaints.

Of those eligible, 11 million have had the subsidy wired into their bank accounts already, with the remaining 2.4 million to receive their first payment next week, according to Mr. Lawan Saengsanit, spokesman for the Finance Ministry.

In 2018, there were about 21.2 million informal and 17.1 million formal workers. Besides agriculture, with a 92% informality rate, jobs in commerce have the second highest rate of informality at 60%, according to the World Bank.

Cash subsidy to 10 million registered farmers

Starting today, another government’s financial aid of 5,000 baht per farm household for three months, will be distributed through the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC).

Eligible recipients include farmers who have registered with the Department of Agricultural Extension, the Department of Fisheries and the Department of Livestock Development, and newly registered farmers.

However, they must not be associated with the government’s 5,000-baht cash handout for workers affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

​In March 2020, the Thai economy contracted at a higher rate than the previous month, said last week the Bank of Thailand in a press release.

The COVID-19 outbreak affected economic activities more severely in all aspects, said the Bank of Thailand. In particular, the tourism sector severely contracted because of international travel restriction measures in many countries including Thailand.