Govt upbeat on wage hike plan

Employer repetitions deny meet protest

Construction workers endure scorching heat as they work to complete an inter-city motorway project in Nonthaburi province last year. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)
Last season, construction workers in Nonthaburi state completed an intercity motorway project in scorching heat. ( Photo: Apichart Jinakul )

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the minister of labor, is assured that a new normal minimum wage increase to 400 baht will be implemented on October 1 along with measures to help the affected businesses.

The president’s remarks on Wednesday occur as the tripartite wage committee’s approaching meeting, which will discuss the proposed 400-baht minimum wage for the entire nation, is uncertain.

The pay commission, comprising employees, employers and the state, met on Monday to force the president’s 400-baht minimum wage plan.

But, five employers ‘ members did not show up, claiming they had different activities. On Friday, a new meeting is scheduled to examine the proposed income increase, which will use to businesses or factories with at least 200 employees.

According to Mr. Phiphat, the remaining members will continue with the discussion regardless of whether the companies ‘ members show up for Friday’s conference because a vote of two-thirds of the committee is required to follow the 400-baht wage policy.

” I’ll make every effort to get it done, and I think businesses are waiting for the pay raise.” I am aware that the companies will be impacted by the pay increase.

” I came from the business industry, and the businesses within our group may be affected significantly. We have about 30, 000 people, and the income does apply to 20, 000 of them. We accept the situation, “he said.

Mr. Phiphat expressed his hope that the companies ‘ staff will stop by to speak on the subject. The Finance Ministry is prepared to implement reduction procedures set to become announced on October 1, he said, and the limited salary increase is the best choice because it would reduce the impact on the businesses.

The secretary stated that the Administrative Court should hear from the affected parties and that he is not concerned if the pay increase is challenged, and that he is willing to bear the consequences because the policy is being put into place in good faith.

The company industry has stated that it is not willing to see a raise in pay. The state’s members should take advice from the municipal sub-committees on the income increase, according to Kurrigkrai Thiennukul, the head of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).

He claimed that when considering the issue, the national income committee should also consider economic indicators and the nation’s competitiveness into account.

According to Mr. Kriengkrai, the FTI has spoken with companies, and the wage increase may result in the closure of those who are already in difficult positions. Additionally, the FTI chair suggested a “pay by skill” solution and called on organizations to train employees in response to market demand.

” Half of the companies are n’t labour-intensive and are prepared to give 700-900 bass to qualified employees, except that those are hard to find. We may speak it out and fine-tune]the plan ] to avoid it becoming a conversation, “he said.

He claimed that the Sept. 16 meeting was called on short notice, defending the companies ‘ members who did not show up on Monday. He claimed that those members were unavailable because they had other businesses to visit. He dispelled the rumors that employers do not attend the meeting.

A crucial election assurance of the Pheu Thai-led government is raising the regular minimum wage. The government hopes to raise the salary by 2027 and by 400 ringgit during its first year in power.

A 400-baht everyday salary was approved by the bilateral committee on March 26, which became effective on April 13 in parts of 10 regions, including Phuket, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, Pattaya, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai City, and Bangkok’s Pathumwan and Watthana regions. It applied to tourism-related firms and four-star establishments with at least 50 people.