BANGKOK, 27 May 2013 Street vendors and food hawkers have been advised by the Ministry of Commerce to obtain a trade license in order to benefit from the planned LPG price subsidy scheme.
According to Department of Internal Trade Director General of the Department of Internal Trade Wiboonrak Ruamrak, over 400,000 street vendors, whose businesses occupy the space of no larger than 50 square meters, are allowed to register with the Internal Trade Office and the Department of Business Development in their provinces to be eligible under the scheme.
The Director General said she does not expect a great turn out at the beginning, as street vendors are already reluctant to pay taxes, although those earning less than the minimum requirement for taxpayers do not need to do so.
Registered vendors will come under the Ministry of Energy’s LPG price subsidy program. The gas prices will be increased in July instead of next month as previously planned. The reason for the postponement was due to the fact the relief measures have yet to be finalized.
The Ministry of Energy is expected to maintain the price of 18.13 baht per kilogram for cooking gas until the end of this year for households with electricity usage below 90 units and street vendors.
