5 replies to this topic

[Sexpat]

"Being a beggar will not be so easy anymore if draft legislation approved by the cabinet yesterday becomes law. The bill proposed by the Human Security and Social Development Ministry sets conditions for people who want to be beggars.

They must provide proof they are underprivileged, disabled, homeless or elderly without children to care for them. And this will be a reserved occupation, exclusively for Thais who must carry ID cards. Would-be professional beggars will have to report to local administration organisations for approval and work permits.

Local agencies will be responsible for controlling beggars in their jurisdictions, while the Social Development and Welfare Department will have special centres to help them and programmes to care for them.Those who force other people to beg, or exploit them, will be liable to criminal punishment, deputy government spokeswoman Suparat Nakboonnam said.

Passing the legislation into law would help the authorities get rid of the large number of foreign beggars in the country, she said. The bill will soon be handed to the government whips and then go to parliament for approval."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/200808_News/20Aug2008_news04.php

[wpcoe]

You forgot the last one-sentence paragraph:

"If passed, it will replace the 1941 Begging Control Act, which is outdated and begging for a makeover, Ms Suparat said."

[Bob]

Presuming the law passes, will the proposed licensees actually have to beg for a license?

[Joe M]

Amazing Thailand!

To be fair, my guess is that one could come up with bizarre laws for just about every country on the globe.

None the less, licensing beggars does seem to defy common sense.

[Haloi]

None the less, licensing beggars does seem to defy common sense.

Not if it's being used to arrest and probably imprison those damned Burmese, Cambodians and Laotians who are such a nuisance competing in the beggar market with legitimate Thais beggars. In addition, just imagine the potential for unofficial "commissions" to be made on the grant of a beggar license. The police will also have a second source of income, extorting beggars who are caught begging without a permit. TIT.

[mauRICE]

This beggars belief!