PUBLISHED: 27 Mar 2025 at 05: 03
NEWSPAPER SECTION: News
Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the minister of labor, has committed to increase the daily minimum wage to 400 baht by May 1 and to support initiatives for small and medium businesses ( SMEs ).
Women’s Party MP Sirikanya Tansakul criticized the government for not fully implementing the 400-baht income promised by the Pheu Thai Party during the 2023 vote campaign during the condemnation conversation in parliament on Tuesday.
She claimed that” that promise was only a rest to the people for political gain.”
Business closures increased by 11 % since the start of the Paetongtarn administration, according to Ms. Sirikanya, compared to the only increase in new business registrations of 4 %. She continued, noting that some workers have received little payment after being laid off.
Mr. Phiphat responded on Wednesday, saying that the federal pay commission would convene before the Songkran event to decide the future ways for a national income adjustment in time for Labor Day on May 1.
In Phuket, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chachoengsao, and Koh Samui, the 400-baht minimal income was implemented earlier this year. Depending on the state, rates range from 337 to 380 ringgit abroad. Employers have argued that because socioeconomic conditions vary across the nation, a single national rate is insufficiently practical.
According to Mr. Phiphat, salary changes may influence 5.8 million workers and 500,000 employers in the SME field, which is the backbone of the market.  ,
He acknowledged that some small businesses could not afford a significant increase in the bottom income, so the government is looking into ways to help mitigate the effect.  ,
According to Mr. Phiphat, the government’s 3 % economic growth goal will also be taken into account, leading to the possibility that some businesses may experience different wage increases to lessen the impact on the economy.