Category: The Bangkok Post

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand says it plans to fill the sinkhole on Samsen Road in Dusit district of Bangkok and reopen the road for traffic by Oct 9.

Sand was being dumped into the sinkhole to prepare for the quick reconstruction of the Samsen road surface, MRTA deputy governor Kitti Akewanlop said on Tuesday.

The job will require 7,000 to 8,000 cubic metres of sand and workers can dump about 2,000 cubic metres a day, he said. On Tuesday the sinkhole was about 10 metres deep from the original road surface.

‘The road surface will be rebuilt on Oct 8 and two lanes will reopen on Oct 9 as planned,’ Mr Kitti said.

He also said that the adjacent Samsen police station building did not shift after the collapse as earlier feared, and officials concerned had confirmed its safety.

Apart from the police station, the sinkhole stood next to Vajira Hospital. Patients and relatives have been advised to take public transport for now. Hospital executives say that 7,000 to 8,000 patients and relatives visit the hospital every day.

The sinkhole was 30 metres wide, 30 metres long and 20 metres deep when it formed suddenly on Samsen Road on the morning of Sept 24. The MRTA initially blamed it on soil sliding into a tunnel and underground station of its Purple Line extension route.

The contractor for the section in question is the CKST joint venture, made up of SET-listed Ch. Karnchang Plc and Stecon Group Plc. The family of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul are major shareholders in the latter.

Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop have all raised their sales transaction fees and introduced additional service charges, leading to higher costs for merchants.

This trend signals the platforms’ drive to increase profitability, while also reflecting their dominant market power by placing a greater financial burden on sellers.

Moreover, TikTok Shop has for the first time expanded its “Pay later” financial service to encompass a broader range of users after piloting a trial among a small number of users late last year.

TikTok Shop’s rivals, Shopee and Lazada, have long been operating this kind of service.

Industry analysts warn that these platforms are no longer just marketplaces — they now control payment systems, logistics, advertising, financial services, and insurance, all powered by behavioural data from over 30 million users.

On Sept 15 this year, Shopee increased its sales transaction fee by another 0.6-1 percentage point, depending on the category, along with a new “Platform Infrastructure Fee” of 1 baht per order.

On Sept 28, Lazada raised its seller fees by 2 percentage points for both regular sellers and LazMall merchants.

Effective as of Oct 1 this year, TikTok Shop said it would be adjusting its platform fees as part of a broader investment strategy “to maintain a safe, sustainable, and inclusive ecosystem”. The new fees are a Commerce Growth Fee of 5.35% for electronics and 6.42% for other categories, capped at a maximum of 199 baht per unit (including VAT), and an Infrastructure Fee of 1.07 baht, which will be waived for sellers with fewer than 100 monthly orders.

In a statement, TikTok Shop said: “We continue to be committed to enabling businesses of all sizes. In 2025 alone, in Thailand, TikTok Shop is investing over US$2 million [64.7 million baht] to promote Thai companies. We recently launched a TikTok Shop E-commerce Curriculum for entrepreneurs in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.”

Pawoot Pongvitayapanu, honorary president of the Thai e-Commerce Association, said Thailand’s digital economy faces growing concerns over the dominance of e-commerce platforms, which are rapidly evolving into commercial infrastructure giants.

By leveraging customer data — such as purchase habits, payment patterns, and delivery preferences — platforms are building powerful engines for personalised promotions, upselling, and cross-industry expansion.

This poses significant risks to five key sectors.

Regarding banking and finance, the platforms compete by offering lending and instalments such as “buy now, pay later” services during the payment process, using real-time payment data to assess creditworthiness, which is often more accurate than traditional credit bureaus.

Their proprietary e-wallets also divert transaction fees away from banks, while those financial institutions lose access to stock-keeping unit-level data, weakening their ability to offer competitive pre-approved loans.

Retailers and brands are increasingly dependent on platforms for visibility, often paying for promotion in a “pay-to-play” model.

Platforms have also launched their own private-label products based on top-selling items, undercutting suppliers. Loyalty tools such as coupons and points keep customers within the platform ecosystem.

For logistics and warehousing, the e-commerce platforms are building their own delivery networks and fulfilment centres, setting service levels and pricing.

With access to end-to-end route and cost data, they can optimise operations beyond the reach of traditional logistics providers.

When it comes to the media and advertising sector, their budgets are shifting towards platform ecosystems, where closed-loop attribution links ads directly to sales.

The platforms’ first-party data enables precise retargeting and personalised promotions, reducing reliance on traditional media.

The platforms offer insurance services, covering parcels and accidents.

Their future expansion could reach travel, health, education, telecom, and utilities — any service that can be embedded at the checkout and supported by user data.

Mr Pawoot explained how platforms tighten their grip by use of a data flywheel, as more sales generate more data, enabling better recommendations and higher conversion rates.

They can have a cross-sell engine by using points and coupons that link products with financial, insurance, and logistics services.

Mr Pawoot suggests businesses collect first-party data via customer relationship management and owned channels (such as the web, apps, and Line) while using marketplaces to acquire new customers, then convert them into brand members.

The businesses should partner with banks and insurtechs to embed financial and insurance services.

They should collaborate on logistics to negotiate better service levels and pricing. Mr Pawoot urged the government to step in and ensure fair competition. Without intervention, monopolistic platforms could expand unchecked, threatening the survival of traditional businesses across multiple sectors.

“Marketplace platforms are no longer just selling products — they’re becoming the backbone of Thailand’s commercial infrastructure,” Mr Pawoot said. “If businesses don’t act now to reclaim data and embed their own services, they risk losing margins, bargaining power, and loyal customers.”

Thirty years ago, 186 countries met in Copenhagen for the first Social Summit for Social Development. The gathering was the largest meeting of world leaders ever at the time. By the end of the summit, their agenda was clear: the challenges faced by our societies are global, and so are the solutions.

In response, governments vowed to put people at the centre of global development. They recognised that social justice must be the foundation for economic progress if progress is to be sustainable. This means ensuring that people, regardless of gender, nationality, background or place of birth, have the right to live in dignity, with equal opportunities to work, thrive and succeed. Societies built on fairness work better, trust more and grow stronger.

The consensus of the summit became the cornerstone for the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since 2015, the SDGs have been the blueprint for achieving a socially just, peaceful and sustainable world. The deadline for their realisation was set for 2030.

Since that first summit, our world has changed, in many ways for the better. A new ILO report, The State of Social Justice, shows that extreme poverty is down from 39% to 10% of the global population. Child labour for under-14-year-olds has been cut in half, and for the first time in history, more than half the world has some form of social protection, such as a pension or unemployment insurance.

But despite decades of efforts, the report makes clear that major disparities remain. A person’s place of birth still determines more than half of their lifetime earnings. Globally, over 800 million people survive on less than three dollars (97 baht) a day. That is why achieving the 2030 SDG targets is in jeopardy. For example, for SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, we lag well behind, having met only two-thirds — or 66% — of the indicators.

If we wish to improve living conditions for everyone and achieve social justice, accelerating the SDGs is crucial. Decent work is a key thread that helps to tie the SDGs together, because decent work is more than making a living: it is a barometer of how well we are doing in society as a whole, including health, education, equality, and responsible consumption and production. When work is productive, paid fairly, safe, equitable and inclusive, freely chosen and with rights, we have social justice.

But decent work does not just “happen”. History shows that, without strong institutions, productivity gains do not translate into better lives. Institutions strengthen basic human rights, such as the rights to education and to a healthy environment, and ensure equal opportunities, fair distribution, and a voice for both workers and employers. Social dialogue is the most effective way to balance the interests of workers and employers and help make growth equitable.

Right now, our institutions are being tested. Three massive transitions are reshaping the world of work everywhere: the impact of a hotter planet and the move to a greener economy, the digital revolution and demographic change. These transformations are creating new jobs and destroying old ones. They have the potential to bring fresh opportunities, but they also risk deepening existing divides. How these changes will play out depends largely on the choices that societies make today.

In November 2025, the second World Social Summit will be held in Doha. This global gathering will once again bring together government representatives, workers, employers and civil society, three and a half decades after the first summit. It represents a critical moment to turn past pledges into real change.

We must reaffirm the promise made in Copenhagen: that social justice and inclusive economic development are everyone’s business and in everyone’s interest. But above all, we must take decisive action.

The ILO-led Global Coalition for Social Justice offers a platform to help move us in the right direction. Already, it brings together governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations, and other partners to accelerate action and cooperation towards achieving social justice and decent work for all.

If we succeed, we can help ensure that economic productivity and social progress are linked. Because in the end, social justice is not an impossible ideal. It is the only route forward to a sustainable future for all of us.

Danone Thailand picked up four major honours at the HR Asia Best Company to Work for in Asia 2025 Awards, including “Best Company to Work for in Asia”, the “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” award, the “Most Caring Company” award, and the “Sustainable Workplace” award.

The awards reflect Danone’s deep commitment to its people, values, and ambition to foster a workplace culture that is inclusive, caring, and sustainable.

Selected from over 300 organisations across 20 industries, these awards underscore a growing expectation from employees and society for businesses to operate with empathy, inclusion, and responsibility.

“We believe our people are at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we embrace diversity, and create space for everyone to grow. Ultimately, it’s our people who help us deliver health through food to as many people as possible and build a more sustainable Thailand,” said Danish Rahman, CEO for South East Asia and Thailand and Laos.

He added that the HR Asia Awards are more than just a form of recognition as they reaffirm Danone Thailand’s mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible, while preserving nature and empowering both communities and the company’s employees.

The company creates a culture of care where its employees feel seen, supported and empowered, and it implements practical policies that support the work-life balance of its employees. For instance, its “Work From Anywhere” policy allows remote work every Monday and Friday, and its “Parental Policy” offers extended paid leave for birth parents and adoptive parents beyond what is legally required while maintaining their full salary.

For career growth, the company encourages employees to step beyond their routines and discover new possibilities through bold, structured programmes designed to meet both personal aspirations and business needs.

As sustainability is crucial for business, through the Danone Impact Journey, its employees contribute to both business and social impact. For example, the Danone Day allows employees take part in community outreach activities as part of the company’s campaign to raise awareness about iron deficiency anaemia and promote early, non-invasive screening for young children.

This commitment is also reflected in its operations at its Bangplee manufacturing site, where Danone has implemented solar rooftops, water reuse systems, zero-discharge practices, and has achieved carbon neutrality.

The Administrative Court has ruled that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Krung Thep Thanakom Co Ltd must pay 11 billion baht to Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Co Ltd (BTS) for operating and maintaining the extended sections of the Green Line electric skytrain.

The ruling, issued on Monday, relates to unpaid operations and maintenance (O and M) fees for two extensions of the Green Line project between June 2021 and October 2022, totalling 11 billion baht, plus interest. The court ordered the payment to be made within 180 days from the final ruling date.

The BMA and Krung Thep Thanakom representatives stated they would consult with BMA executives on whether to appeal because doing so may result in higher interest payments.

Deputy Bangkok governor, Wisanu Subsompon, said the BMA respects the court’s decision. To settle the debt, it is seeking approval for a supplementary budget for the 2026 fiscal year, using part of its 51.66 billion baht in reserve funds. The total payment owed to the BTS is expected to be 32.62 billion baht, including accrued interest through November next year.

The budget allocation process involves several steps before the Bangkok governor gives his final approval, and the payment is expected to be made on Nov 18.

The debt includes 12.2 billion baht from the second lawsuit period (June 2021-October 2022), and another 17.1 billion baht accrued from November 2022 to December 2024. An additional 8.3 billion baht is expected for 2025 operations.

Once the debt is paid, the BMA will have approximately 19 billion baht left in reserve funds.

Nintendo has announced that Thai subtitles will be added to Donkey Kong Bananza for the Nintendo Switch 2, with players able to try out the feature at Nintendo’s booth during the upcoming Gamescom Asia × Thailand Games Show in October. The update will be free for existing owners of the game.

The move comes shortly after Nintendo revealed plans to expand its presence in Thailand with a new local subsidiary. While the company has not yet provided a specific download date for the subtitle update, it confirmed that players will eventually be able to download it at no extra cost.

At the Gamescom Asia × Thailand Games Show, taking place from October 17-19, visitors to the Nintendo booth will be able to try the Thai-language version of Donkey Kong Bananza on the Switch 2.

Nintendo stressed, however, that the addition of Thai subtitles to Donkey Kong Bananza does not mean that all of its other titles will support the language. The company said announcements will be made in advance if other games are confirmed to include Thai localisation.