The Labour Ministry is planning to pay a monthly allowance of Bt2,000 to every employee earning less than Bt20,000 a month.

"This is a measure to help low-income earners," Labour Minister Phaithoon Kaeothong said Monday, "But the employee must be a member of the Social Security Network".

Currently, the network has 9.3 million members.

According to the plan, the Bt2,000 monthly allowance will be given for one year. The implementation will require a budget of around Bt19billion.

"If the Social Security Office board agrees to the plan, we will ask the Cabinet to approve the budget," Phaithoon said.