Special Report: Global Financial Crisis

    BANGKOK, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Thai government is expected to start distributing 2,000 baht (59 U.S. dollars) through cheques from March 26 to April 8 to low-income earners to boost purchasing power, Labor Minister Paitoon Kaewthong said Wednesday, local media reported.

    The low-income earners are people with a monthly salary of lower than 15,000 baht. The 2,000-baht money is part of the government's economic stimulus packages aiming to boost the domestic economy, amid the global economic turmoil.

    Those who receive the 2,000-baht cheque can deposit or spend the money right away, but they cannot transfer them, the website by Bangkok Post quoted Paitoon as saying.

    Earlier, the government said after distributing the 2,000-baht money to those low-income people, it would ask shops and department stores nationwide to provide a 10 to 20 percent discount for consumers.

    The government hopes the 10-20 percent discounts in all shops and department stores would help boost spending and discourage people from saving the money at bank accounts.