Registration for the “Khon La Khrueng Plus” programme has officially opened, says Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas.
During a visit to Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi on Sunday to monitor the roll-out of the co-payment scheme, Mr Ekniti said the programme will benefit not only consumers, but also small business owners, and local shops.
He said over 200,000 vendors have already registered to take part in the programme. Registration for vendors will remain open until Dec 19.
Mr Ekniti said in this phase of the scheme, licensed public transport drivers, including motorcycle taxis and bus operators, are also eligible to join as service providers. The Ministry of Transport will provide subsidies to reduce travel expenses for the public, allowing citizens to pay only half of transport costs.
The initiative includes discounted fares for buses operated by the Transport Co Ltd across the country.
During his visit, Mr Ekniti said many local shops and residents responded positively to the scheme and asked for the second phase of the scheme to run for a longer period. He instructed the Ministries of Finance and Interior to monitor for any misuse of the programme, warning that anyone found guilty will face strict legal action.
The Khon La Khrueng Plus scheme, initiated by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, is part of the government’s Quick Big Win strategy to boost economy and reduce the cost of living for the public.
Meanwhile, deputy government spokeswoman Airin Phanrit said the scheme has drawn healthy interest from consumers and merchants.
Some 123,960 shops have registered between Oct 15 and 17 while another 98,064 are still undergoing the verification process. In total, over 222,000 shops have applied so far.
Registration for consumers will be available through the Pao Tang app from Oct 20-26 between 6am and 10pm. Participants will receive between 2,000 and 2,400 baht each, with a daily spending limit of 200 baht.
Ms Airin also warned of increased online scams exploiting the scheme’s popularity, saying cybercriminals have been sending fake links to steal personal data and bank account information. She advised the public to avoid clicking on suspicious SMS links or sharing personal details, including ID numbers, PINs, OTPs or bank data.