PUBLISHED: 9 May 2024 at 04: 21
A representative of the bilateral wage council on Wednesday criticized the government for announcing a plan to increase the normal minimum wage to 400 baht throughout the country starting in October.
Atthayuth Leeyavanich, a wage council member who represents employers, said a fresh wage hike had not been reviewed by the committee, and it was unacceptable for democratic office- holders to explain it formally.
He claimed that he had no notion where the demand for a pay increase came from. At the April 14 conference, the council agreed to conduct a research on a career- based adjustment, he said.
On May 1– International Labour Day, Labour Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn announced the possibility of a 400-baht least regular income, according to Mr. Atthayuth, who claimed the information must have been false.
The latest salary climb, which applied to hospitality- related businesses and four- celebrity hotels in some areas in 10 provinces, was studied extensively before it was approved, said Mr Atthayuth.
The committee may join on May 14 to examine the context of the investigation and how long it will take, he said.
The council is prepared to support the plan if the new rate is in line with the law, according to Mr. Atthayuth, and Section 87 of the Labour Protection Act governs the regular minimum wage modification.
Weerasuk Kaewboonpun, a member of the wage committee who represents employees, insisted the April 17 meeting did not discuss any proposal to raise the daily minimum wage to 400 baht.
However, he claimed that provincial committees were given the task of gathering data before the upcoming wage increase and having it reviewed before October.
The tripartite wage committee could not be under pressure, according to Mr. Weerasuk, who criticized the labor minister’s announcement regarding the potential wage increase.
He claimed that the 400 baht wage was a promise made during the campaign.
The two-baht increase was criticized by the prime minister as being inacceptable because it prevented half an egg. But I inquired about why the government did n’t make an effort to lower egg prices. The goods ‘ prices are tied to the wage”, he said.
Businesses and trade associations are meeting with the labour minister on Monday to voice their opposition to the new wage increase, according to a source in the labor ministry.
If the government demands a raise in the minimum wage, they intend to file the case with the Administrative Court.
Srettha Thavisin, the prime minister, praised the labor minister’s efforts and reiterated the government’s policy to raise the daily minimum wage.
The plan is opposed by the business community because it should only apply to companies and provinces that are willing to pay higher wages and be based on workers ‘ skills. If the wage increase places too much pressure on employers, they worry about job losses as well.