Cheap ready-to-eat food will be sold under an initiative by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to cope with the increasingly high cost of living.

It will cost no more than Bt20 per dish and will be on sale from May 12 on weekdays at locations to be chosen by 50 district offices, Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said yesterday.

The BMA is also granting loans for small businesses and vocational training for low-income earners: Bt4,000 for one training course or Bt5,000 investment funds for those already with skills.  

Pay rise for some

All 50,000 low-income workers employed by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will be given salary rises after approval is given by the Bangkok City Assembly.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said yesterday that the raise, which would take the lowest pay scale to Bt13,500, would not affect the BMA's budgetary management because the Bt1.134 billion needed annually for the increases would be compensated by the higher collection of BMA-imposed taxes.

Bt13,500 is an amount recommended by the BMA Commission as sufficient for moderate living standards.