Financial worries put a burden on Thai families
Most Thai families are warm and loving, but more than 60 per cent have family members with financial problems, and their debts are with loan sharks or credit card companies, a recent Abac poll has revealed.
Deputy Prime Minister and Social Development and Human Security Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham told participants at the "Family Assembly for a Peaceful Society" seminar yesterday an Abac poll of 1,845 residents in greater Bangkok found that 96 per cent demonstrated their love for family members often. They expressed love by taking care of family members when they were ill (56 per cent), giving them gifts during special occasions (48.5 per cent), spending time together (45 per cent), talking with reason at time of conflicts (70 per cent) and consulting each other about issues (95 per cent). The survey - carried out between March 30 and April 3 - also found that two-thirds of those polled interacted with family members on a daily basis. The activities they did together were watching TV or listening to music (83 per cent), sharing meals (80 per cent) and doing housework (72 per cent). Paiboon said that although most Thai families were warm and loving, many (60 per cent) suffered financial problems. About 64 per cent of those polled said they discussed financial concerns with their siblings, while 36 per cent said they talked about health problems. Slightly less than half managed to make ends meet but had no savings, but 18 per cent said they were in the red, he said. Over a third wanted Bt5,000 to Bt10,000 more in monthly earnings to cover expenses. Some 43 per cent of this group borrowed from family or friends while 23 per cent borrowed from loan sharks, and about 13 per cent from quick-cash services and credit cards, Paiboon said. About 47 per cent said they lived a hard life and about a quarter were not sure if their family members could avoid drug abuse and vices. To solve such problems, about half of respondents placed hope on the warmth and caring of their family, while over a third put faith in consultant services. Nearly 60 per cent said their family lived separately from other families, meaning Thai society was a rather lonely one, Paiboon said. The seminar was held as a stage for 2,000 families to exchange ideas and make suggestions to state agencies on solutions for social problems.
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