Bangkok: The Shadow Cabinet of the People's Party urged the government to reconsider requiring SME restaurants to be properly registered to participate in the "Thai Helps Thai Plus" project. They proposed using the remaining 16 billion baht budget to assist entrepreneurs and incentivize them to enter the tax system.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, a party-list MP and leader of the People's Party, stated during the shadow cabinet meeting that representatives from the restaurant business were invited to discuss the impact of the "Thai Help Thai Plus" project. These representatives, who are small-scale entrepreneurs registered in the tax system, expressed concerns over the current program regulations.

Mr. Waranthorn Daengyai, from the Restaurant Association, highlighted the economic challenges faced by SME restaurant businesses, noting that recent economic conditions and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have driven up oil prices, leading to higher taxes and reduced sales. The "Thai Helps Thai Plus" measures have also resulted in decreased sales for SMEs not participating in the program.

Mr. Isariya Pairipaiyarit, a member of the People's Party's Shadow Cabinet for the New Economy, criticized the program for excluding legally registered businesses while allowing unregistered small-scale businesses to participate. He emphasized the need for the government to revise the regulations to include properly registered "S-sized" shops, benefiting those compliant with the regulations.

With only three months remaining in the project's initial phase, Mr. Nattapong urged the government to reconsider the participation criteria to support corporate entities and encourage tax compliance. He also raised concerns about restaurant owners feeling exploited by various platforms and stressed the importance of detailed work to effectively address these issues.