A coalition of vendors, academics and NGOs on urban development has intensified its calls for the government to speed up efforts to alleviate hardship suffered by street vendors who have been purged from the city's pavements.
Known as The Network of Thai Street Vendors for Sustainable Development, the group is demanding progress from a high-level committee set up early last month to consider relief measures for vendors affected by the crackdown.
The committee was set up on Sept 10 this year by the Prime Minister's Office. Chaired by the interior minister, its members include top officials from various ministries and the Bangkok governor.
Rewat Chobtham, the network's representative, said the campaign to clear the pavements has driven tens of thousands of vendors and their families to despair because authorities failed to allocate them proper alternative venues.
According to Mr Rewat, there are more than 300,000 street vendors in the city who have become part of the informal economy and instrumental in providing affordable, low-priced products to city residents.
He said the vendors welcome regulations aimed at promoting public order and food safety and about 10,000 of them in various districts of Bangkok have agreed to impose their own set of regulations.
"These rules include keeping the venues clean and not obstructing traffic," he said.
Mr Rewat said that the group will step up pressure if the committee in question fails to come up with relief measures by Nov 10.
Poonsap Suanmuang Tulaphan, manager of the Foundation for Labour and Employment Promotion, said the crackdown has affected not only street vendors but also other professions such as motorcycle taxi drivers, some of whose waiting areas have been removed from curb sides.
Naruemon Nirathorn, of Thammasat University's Faculty of Social Work, said a lack of progress from the official committee suggests the government is not paying enough attention to the problem.
"Street vending has created problems but it also generates employment and income. We need a mechanism to manage it and keep it free from abuse and corruption. Dialogue is needed."
