Thread: B600-700 minimum wage not possible: Labour spokesman

It is not possible for the daily labour minimum wage to go up to between 600-700 baht per day as proposed by the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee, said Labour Ministry spokesman Ananchai Uthaipattanacheep.

Daily News website quoted Mr Ananchai as saying that he believed the proposed amount would also not be acceptable to entrepreneurs. With this high labour minimum wage, the business operators would not be able to survive, he added.

The Thai Labour Solidarity Committee made the proposal on Friday (Sept 8), reasoning that the current minimum wage, which ranges between 300-310, is not enough to meet the rising cost of living and daily expenses.

Mr Ananchai said the daily labour minimum wage is decided by the tripartite committee whose members comprise representatives of the government, the employers and the employees. The decision is based on the cost of living in different provinces, the gross national product (GDP) and the the economic growth rate.

The committee last year adjusted the minimum wage highter by 5-10 baht.

As a result, there are now four groups of provinces with different minimum wages:

300 baht for the first group of eight provinces: Sing Buri, Chumphon, Nakhon Ratchasima, Trang, Ranong, Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala.
305 baht for the second group of 49 provinces: Mae Hong Son, Lampang, Nan, Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Suphan Buri, Phetchaburi, Phetchaburi, Phatthalung, Satun, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Phrae, Phetchabun, Uthai Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Kalasin, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Buri Ram, Surin, Amnat Charoen, Chai Nat, Lop Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Sa Kaeo, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Samut Songkhram, Chanthaburi, Trat, Lamphun, Phayao, Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Bung Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Ubon Ratchathani, Ang Thong, Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Mukdahan, Yasothon, Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok, Udon Thani, Chaiyaphum, Si Sa Ket, Nakhon Sawan and Nong Khai.
308 baht in the third group of 13 provinces: Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachin Buri, Chon Buri, Rayong, Surat Thani, Songkhla, Chiang Mai, Saraburi, Chachoengsao, Krabi, Phangnga and Ayutthaya.
310 baht in the fourth group of seven provinces: Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon and Phuket.

B600-700 minimum wage not possible: Labour spokesman - Thai PBS English News

I can see unemployment quadrupled if this comes in, I for one would shut my farm, would be a total money looser.