PUBLISHED: 3 Apr 2024 at 11: 07
Following increases in pieces of 10 counties that will start on April 13, the government will push for further minimum income increases, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s statement from yesterday.
He made the remarks after the government acknowledged a further increase of 400 baht per day in some of those regions.
Mr. Srettha stated that the government will hold regular meetings to decide where and what kind of business should acquire support in order to raise the minimum wage.
The bilateral pay committee approved the most recent wage increase on March 26. It will be applied to hospitality- relevant companies and four- sun hotels with at least 50 employees, according to Pairoj Chotikasathien, permanent director for the Labour Ministry and chairman of the committee.
The hike will be applied to Bangkok’s Pathumwan and Watthana districts, Chiang Mai’s Nakhon Chiang Mai town, all of Phuket, the place under the authority of tambon Ao Nang operational company in Krabi, Songkhla’s Hat Yai city, Surat Thani’s Koh Samui area, Phangnga’s tambon Khuk Khak city, Pattaya City in Chon Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Hua Hin municipality, and Rayong’s tambon Ban Phae.
However, business associations in Phuket, Phangnga and Krabi yesterday issued a joint statement seeking a delay. They include the Phuket Chamber of Commerce and the Thai Hotels Association’s Southern Chapter, among others.
They claimed that because employees are paid based on minimum rates and their share of service fees, their income already exceeds 400 baht per day.
” This act of interference in the industry’s wage payment mechanism is wrong. The group predicted that it will put financial strain on employers and have an impact on other industries like restaurants and transportation.
The daily minimum wage for Thai workers was increased on January 1 across the country, with the new rates varying between provinces and starting at 330 to 370 baht. The increases range from 2 to 16 baht, or an average of 2.37 %.