The COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand has left a severe impact on children and poor families. However, a new UNICEF report based on high-frequency studies shows some positive trends in the country's recovery. Despite this, problems with child care, loans and savings still remain relevant, especially for the poorest families with children.
The report, based on two rounds of surveys conducted in September 2022 and March 2023 among more than 2,000 households across Thailand, shows an overall positive trend in the country, especially for those who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. By March 2023, 90% of those who lost their jobs were able to return to work, up from 79% in September 2022. This positive development is accompanied by an improvement in incomes, as evidenced by 55% of those surveyed who said their incomes had increased, with nearly half reporting significant increases.
Unfortunately, families with children find themselves on a slower recovery path than the rest of the population. The survey found that families with children found it harder to find a job after losing their job, mainly due to childcare responsibilities. 86% of mothers and grandparents had the primary responsibility for childcare, while only 4% of fathers and grandparents did so.
"While the recovery process continues, families with children and the poorest members of the population continue to face significant challenges, especially in the areas of child care, employment and rising prices," said Kyunsun Kim, UNICEF Representative in Thailand. “These issues highlight the importance of prioritizing investments in children.
According to the survey, many parents find it difficult to find suitable and affordable childcare services. More than 1 in 3 respondents (37%) gave up work due to the need to care for children, especially in rural areas and the northeast regions, where babysitting services were too expensive. Due to the lack of child care options, 5% of respondents sometimes left their children aged 0 to 6 in the care of another child under 10, and 10% indicated that they sometimes had to take their young children with them to work.
Despite the high percentage of households receiving social assistance from the government, the survey revealed worrisome trends in savings and debt, especially among families with children. About 70% of all households indicated that their savings have either decreased compared to half a year ago, or they have no savings at all. Between September 2022 and March 2023, loans from financial institutions increased from 21% to 40%, and arrears also increased from 24% to 36%. Arrears in debt repayment were higher among families with children - 41%, indicating greater vulnerability.
The more joyful news is that children are returning to schools. In March 2023, nearly all respondents said their children were back in school, up from 94% six months ago, according to the survey. Most of them also reported that children successfully catch up on education after returning to school.
