⛅ Good morning! A 55-year-old construction worker in Sam Yan survived a year without pay by eating the morning glory growing at her worksite. Now students have opened a pomegranate tea stall to support unpaid workers like her.

📌 A quick note: There won’t be a regular issue next Sunday — I’m taking a break from the news feed for a week. The monthly Soi Blueprint column will run Sept. 4 instead of the usual first of the month. See you in September!

Extreme heat can cut daily earnings for women workers in Thailand by up to 50%, according to a new report from HERA, a climate nonprofit. The drop stems from lower productivity, spoiled food and fewer customers during heat spikes.

Why it matters: More than 11 million women work in Thailand’s informal economy as street vendors, motorcycle taxi drivers, domestic workers and home-based workers — earning between roughly 325 baht and 820 baht a day, according to the report.

Big picture: Some 85% of women reported seeing their daily income drop with higher heat. At the same time, 92% faced rising costs for water, electricity and medical care.

Zooming in: Motorcycle drivers reported earnings cut in half — from 800 to 400 baht a day — as demand drops and driving conditions worsen. Shellfish processors saw income fall by as much as 75% as heat sped up food spoilage.

What’s next: HERA said it’s testing solutions like parametric insurance and cash assistance triggered by heat thresholds, alongside cooling equipment and awareness campaigns for women workers.

🔎 Read the full report in English.

A two-story public park connecting Fort Mahakan and the Golden Mount is planned under the Royal Initiative Project. The prime minister is pushing for a quick timeline.

Why it matters: The park is part of a broader push to brand Wat Saket Ratchawora Mahawihan and Fort Mahakan as a historic tourist attraction, backed by multiple government agencies.

State of play: The elevated park will total 4,500 square meters once complete, featuring plants representing Thailand’s provinces and improvements to the surrounding canals.

Between the lines: Presentation documents show 108 buildings sit on the development site, 94 of which are leased. Those leases are set to expire at the end of this year.

What’s next: Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he wants the park completed in time for the Supreme Patriarch’s 100th birthday, June 26, 2027.

Flashback: Authorities cleared Fort Mahakan’s old community a decade ago to build Fort Mahakan Park, displacing multi-generational residents after decades of resistance.

🖼️ Check out concept pictures.

Correction 8/23/2026: An earlier version misstated the Supreme Patriarch’s birth date. The error has been corrected.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s 1,520-bus EV transition may face delays tied to depot readiness, even as the first batch of new electric buses remains on track for a March delivery, Thai PBS reports.

Why it matters: Each depot must be retrofitted with charging infrastructure and energy management systems before March.

Yes, but… A 451-million-baht depot upgrade contract with winning bidder Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction is stalled, pending approval from a new BMTA board. A new board still awaits Cabinet appointment.

What’s next: The BMTA ultimately wants to develop 12 depots across Bangkok and surrounding provinces. This phase covers nine.

Bangkok’s 2027 Budget Committee last weekend floated taxing EV charging the same way the city taxes gasoline.

Why it matters: Fully electric vehicles make up roughly 4.5% of Bangkok’s private passenger cars, according to the Department of Land Transport, with adoption climbing steadily.

State of play: The Finance Department said there’s no legislation to support collecting an EV charging tax. Officials said they’re separately working to amend the BMA Act to enable collection of other taxes, such as those on hotels and cigarettes.

Between the lines: The exchange signals the direction city lawmakers may head as gasoline tax revenue shrinks with rising EV adoption. However, no formal proposal has been made.

Bangkok certified 604 products from 440 city-based entrepreneurs as Bangkok Brand 2026, part of an annual campaign to help local businesses reach wider markets.

Why it matters: Winners get marketing support, a shot at meeting foreign investors, access to workshops and help expanding into outlets like 7-Eleven and airport retail spaces.

🛍️ Browse the list of winning products here.

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📧 Reach me at [email protected].