Thread: Wage committee agrees to increase minimum wages by Bt2-16

The tripartite wage committee, comprising representatives of the government, employers and employees, decided today to increase minimum wages in 77 provinces by Bt2-16/day, effective on January 1 2024, subject to cabinet approval.


The largest increase is in Phuket, where the minimum wage will be increased by 16 baht to 370 baht/day. The smallest increase is two baht in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, to 330 baht/day.


The new minimum wages approved today by the wage committee are still below than Bt400 promised by the Pheu Thai party during their election campaign. The rises will be submitted to the cabinet for approval on Tuesday.


The country’s minimum wages were last increased on October 1 last year. There are nine rates, according to economic situation in each province. The pre-increase rates are as follows:


Bt354/day in Chon Buri, Phuket and Rayong.
Bt353/day in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon.
Bt345/day in Chachoengsao.
Bt343/day in Ayutthaya.
Bt340/day in Prachin Buri, Nong Khai, Ubon Ratchathani, Phang-nga, Krabi, Trat, Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai, Suphan Buri, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Lop Buri and Saraburi.
Bt338/day in six provinces, namely Mukdahan, Kalasin, Sakhon Nakhon, Samut Songkhram, Chanthaburi and Nakhon Nayok.
Bt335/day in Phetchabun, Kanchanaburi, Bueng Kan, Chainat, Nakhon Phanom, Phayao, Surin, Yasothon, Roi Et, Loei, Phatthalung, Uttaradit, Nakhon Sawan, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phitsanuloke, Ang Thong, Sa Kaeo, Buri Ram and Phetchaburi.
Bt332/day in Amnat Charoen, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Trang, Si Sa Ket, Nong Bua Lamphu, Uthai Thani, Lampang, Lamphun, Chumphon, Maha Sarakham, Sing Buri, Satun, Phrae, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Ratchaburi, Tak, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chaiyaphum, Ranong and Phichit.
Bt328/day in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Nan and Udon Thani.

Wage committee agrees to increase minimum wages by Bt2-16 | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

New minimum wages are too low and need review : PM

The prime minister is not satisfied with the Wage Committee’s Friday decision on the new minimum wages in Thailand, saying that they are too low and promising a review.


Speaking to the media at the Pheu Thai party’s coordination centre in Kanchanaburi province yesterday, Srettha Thavisin said that the minimum wage increases, from Bt2-16, are too low while the cost of living is still increasing.


He noted that the Bt2-3 increase for the three southernmost provinces is insufficient to buy even a single egg.


He said that his government has been trying its best to reduce the hardships being suffered by low-income earners by cutting utility prices, tackling the informal debt problem and providing debt moratoria for farmers, but there are still many millions of people who depend on the minimum wage to survive.


He also said that he has made several foreign trips to try to convince large multinational companies to invest in Thailand and to seek free trade negotiations with numerous countries, to improve Thai exports.


He then complained about business operators and employers in general, saying that his pleas for them to have sympathy for their employees, who are the most affected by the increase in the cost of living, have not been responded to positively.


Instead, he said the businesses choose to suppress the wages and have refused to develop or restructure their operations, while continuing to seek the government’s help.


“Shall we allow Thai workers to continue to receive low wages, while workers in other countries, such as Singapore and South Korea, are earning at least Bt1,000 a day?” asked the prime minister.


“Shall we allow our brothers and sisters to become second or third-class citizens of the world?” he continued.


He said that he is not happy at all with the small increases and wants to convey this message, through the media, to all businesses, as he dismissed concerns that a larger increase in minimum wages would cause businesses to relocate to countries where wages are lower.


“Such a concern is mere rhetoric. No business will relocate if the wage is increased from just Bt300 to Bt400,” said the prime minister.

New minimum wages are too low and need review : PM | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world