Thai workers rallying at gate number five of the Government House, May 1, 2023. Photo: Naewna

 

by TNR Staff 

 

IN MARKING International Workers’ Day, often referred to as May Day, a network of Thai workers staged a rally at gate number five of the Government House calling for an equal minimum wage of 712 baht nationwide among other demands, Naewna newspaper said.

 

Mr. Mongkolchai Samudon, deputy permanent secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, received the letter of demands submitted by Mr. Sawit Kaewwan, president of the Thai Labour Solidarity Confederation, which staged the rally.

 

The workers’ demands are as follows:

 

– The government must approve an equal minimum wage of 712 baht throughout the country;

– The government should adopt International Labour Organization Convention No. 190 which aims to eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work;

 

Full story: https://thainewsroom.com/2023/05/01/demand-for-712-baht-minimum-wage-nationwide-at-may-day-rally/

 

-- © Copyright  THAI NEWSROOM 2023-05-02

 

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Never going to happen 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

calling for an equal minimum wage of 712 baht nationwide among other demands

712 baht per hour, per week, per month...per year ???? ?

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The government must approve an equal minimum wage of 712 baht throughout the country;

No way on planet earth is this going to happen.

Not saying they are not worth it, or it reflects the cost of living, just that if the minimum wage was raised to this nationwide Thailand would lose it's cheap labour niche and large corporations would move out.

1 hour ago, Pique Dard said:

712 baht per hour, per week, per month...per year ???? ?

Try per day.

Instead of this incredibly outdated and machiavellian day rate for hard working workers, why not campaign and implement a lawful and regulated hourly wage/salary - where flexibility and raises would be required.

minimum wage is never good for any economy.
they will get 712 (maybe not right now)
but prices on everything will be double what they were.

No chance.

 

Inflation would skyrocket and manufacturers would relocate to other SE Asian countries.

1 hour ago, zzaa09 said:

Instead of this incredibly outdated and machiavellian day rate for hard working workers, why not campaign and implement a lawful and regulated hourly wage/salary - where flexibility and raises would be required.

why not instead, try to improve education and training so the workers are worth more money? You can't lift up people with regulations

19 minutes ago, patman30 said:

minimum wage is never good for any economy.
they will get 712 (maybe not right now)
but prices on everything will be double what they were.

yes but noone understands that.....some people still thinks you can make everyone wealthy by ordering the companies to pay their staff more than it is worth.
If someone want to rise their salaries the way would be to restrict cheap labor from Myanmar and Cambodia. Than there would be a shortage and therefor competition for workers. And the companies need to work more efficient, investing in training and machines. That all at big costs for the economic and inflation, but the worker would have more.
Only rising brings even more inflation, maybe unemployment and only higher numbers on the bank account but not more purchasing power.

Hopefully, it doesn't happen.

I pay my part time cleaning lady and gardener 100 baht each per hour the minimum they work is 4 hours but sometimes it can be more especially for the gardener 

Raise to a 1,000 a day, collect income tax and improve society. CP's, and the likes of CP,  profit margins are criminal

6 hours ago, hotchilli said:

No way on planet earth is this going to happen.

Not saying they are not worth it, or it reflects the cost of living, just that if the minimum wage was raised to this nationwide Thailand would lose it's cheap labour niche and large corporations would move out.

Cheap skate pensionists living of the back of the low cost of living here in Thailand would be packing there bags to sponge of some other under developed country .

Not a problem 

3 minutes ago, SoilSpoil said:

Raise to a 1,000 a day, collect income tax and improve society. CP's, and the likes of CP,  profit margins are criminal

Do you really think their profit margin would change.   Added overheard will just be passed on the to consume.

Here are some common debunked myths about raising the minimum wage:

"Five myths about raising the minimum wage — debunked" 

Marc Stier | 10/19/2019

https://krc-pbpc.org/research_publication/five-myths-about-raising-the-minimum-wage-debunked/

Originally published by the PA Capital-Star on October 3, 2019.

MYTH ONE: “The minimum wage was never meant to be a living wage. It’s primarily for young people starting out.” FALSE.

MYTH TWO: “Raising the minimum wage just increases the price of goods across the board.” FALSE.

MYTH THREE: “Raising the minimum wage will hurt people earning $12, $15, $18 an hour right now.” FALSE.

 

MYTH FOUR: “Raising the minimum wage will destroy small businesses.” FALSE.

MYTH FIVE: “Raising the minimum wage will lead to job loss.” FALSE.

6 hours ago, patman30 said:

minimum wage is never good for any economy.
they will get 712 (maybe not right now)
but prices on everything will be double what they were.

 Nonsense

45 minutes ago, Jotnar said:

Do you really think their profit margin would change.   Added overheard will just be passed on the to consume.

No, I dont think companies would voluntarily do that. But I woukd applaud it.

All that might be possible, when the population becomes the highest income taxed population in the World.

 

That may make them end up with as little as now, and by then complaining about their need for higher income and more welfare, lower electricity bill and lower fuel costs, and lower costs of living.

 

And don't forget that when minimum salary raise the prices for living expenses will go up – because everybody is paid a higher minimum salaray and other salaries also raise, bacause prices and inflation raise – and export falls, as the labour cost becomes too high, which often result in unemployment and more tax money needed for welfare.

 

How I know?

Well, I'm from the highest taxed country in the World, yes "Number One", it's named Denmark. The situation there is: An income tax between 38% and 53% plus an extra income tax of 8% on your work-income. i.e., your income tax from work can be between 46% and 61%; 25% v.a.t. on all goods and services; 25-150% tax on new cars – the more expensive car, the higher taxation – plus the annual tax depending on weight and fuel-type; an average unit price (kWh) for electricity equivalent to about 11 baht; diesel fuel around 65 baht per liter; and for the remaining subjects: "You name it, Denmark tax it"...

1 hour ago, MrMojoRisin said:

 Nonsense

please elaborate and post the net benefits of introducing minimum wage to any economy.

2 hours ago, SoilSpoil said:

Raise to a 1,000 a day, collect income tax and improve society. CP's, and the likes of CP,  profit margins are criminal

Raise to a 1000 and say bye bye to CP...as they'll move to Cambodia or Myanmar or China....and many others as well and millions will be unemployed. But the intellectual strong one will earn even more than 1000 Baht....

39 minutes ago, khunPer said:

All that might be possible, when the population becomes the highest income taxed population in the World.

 

That may make them end up with as little as now, and by then complaining about their need for higher income and more welfare, lower electricity bill and lower fuel costs, and lower costs of living.

 

And don't forget that when minimum salary raise the prices for living expenses will go up – because everybody is paid a higher minimum salaray and other salaries also raise, bacause prices and inflation raise – and export falls, as the labour cost becomes too high, which often result in unemployment and more tax money needed for welfare.

 

How I know?

Well, I'm from the highest taxed country in the World, yes "Number One", it's named Denmark. The situation there is: An income tax between 38% and 53% plus an extra income tax of 8% on your work-income. i.e., your income tax from work can be between 46% and 61%; 25% v.a.t. on all goods and services; 25-150% tax on new cars – the more expensive car, the higher taxation – plus the annual tax depending on weight and fuel-type; an average unit price (kWh) for electricity equivalent to about 11 baht; diesel fuel around 65 baht per liter; and for the remaining subjects: "You name it, Denmark tax it"...

I thought Germany is the worst....I could never imagine that someone could beat them

1 hour ago, MrMojoRisin said:

 Nonsense

yes nonsense...they will triple

29 minutes ago, patman30 said:

please elaborate and post the net benefits of introducing minimum wage to any economy.

Nonsense
/ˈnɒns(ə)ns/

noun

1. 1. 

   spoken or written words that have no meaning or make no sense.

7 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Here are some common debunked myths about raising the minimum wage:

"Five myths about raising the minimum wage — debunked" 

Marc Stier | 10/19/2019

https://krc-pbpc.org/research_publication/five-myths-about-raising-the-minimum-wage-debunked/

Originally published by the PA Capital-Star on October 3, 2019.

MYTH ONE: “The minimum wage was never meant to be a living wage. It’s primarily for young people starting out.” FALSE.

MYTH TWO: “Raising the minimum wage just increases the price of goods across the board.” FALSE.

MYTH THREE: “Raising the minimum wage will hurt people earning $12, $15, $18 an hour right now.” FALSE.

 

MYTH FOUR: “Raising the minimum wage will destroy small businesses.” FALSE.

MYTH FIVE: “Raising the minimum wage will lead to job loss.” FALSE.

Problem with a minimum wage many employees think that's all they need to pay.

 Just a small percentage are paid a minimum wage in most countries. 

700thb impossible , its not in balance with neighbouring countrys.

2nd would lead to mass unimployment 

3rd  many staff uneficent and unproductive  ( look like hmpro 100 people for only saying hello to you, a tileworker uses 4 times more time than an educated and proffesional in other countrys)

4th if productivity increases by 50-100%,that means more education ,more automation and more producivity , than there would be a possibiility of increase to 700 , but also means many staff would get layoff 

21 hours ago, webfact said:

calling for an equal minimum wage of 712 baht nationwide

And so it continues like a dog chasing its tail

 

I told my wife back when it went 200 to 300 a day. This is good for you to watch as I watched the same in the USA as I grew up.

 

Because what will now happen is eventually yes it will go 712 a day & more guaranteed

 

But for the companies paying it will they keep their prices the same for products after doubling the pay expense?...Of course Not they will raise the price of goods to offset the price of labor

 

So the dog chasing his tail game begins. Because the workers happy with the 712 a day pay soon find they again cannot afford things as prices rise & ask for 1400 a day

 

Last but not least many of the foreigners that moved to Thailand for the lower cost of living start to wonder where to next ????

 

I am not saying Thai workers do not deserve 712 & more per day. I am just saying this is how it goes ever higher & the minimum wage folks never catch up

19 hours ago, h90 said:

Raise to a 1000 and say bye bye to CP...as they'll move to Cambodia or Myanmar or China....and many others as well and millions will be unemployed. But the intellectual strong one will earn even more than 1000 Baht....

'Bye bye'  to CP would be a blessing, seen the corruption, pollution, ability to change laws, and income disparity kept in check by them . Companies like CP are parasites, sucking society dry through cheap labor, greed, profit. The old chestnut of job creation is flawed when Thailand needs millions of migrant workers.

5 minutes ago, SoilSpoil said:

'Bye bye'  to CP would be a blessing, seen the corruption, pollution, ability to change laws, and income disparity kept in check by them . Companies like CP are parasites, sucking society dry through cheap labor, greed, profit. The old chestnut of job creation is flawed when Thailand needs millions of migrant workers.

I read that they have 360.000 employees...maybe not all in Thailand. But you think they should be all fired and their junk food should be instead imported from China or USA? And as they are a major exporter it would also include some cuts in the social spending or higher VAT.
I am not a fan of CP or other companies like them. But having them is better than not having them as they won't get replaced with something better.

21 hours ago, Srikcir said:

MYTH FIVE: “Raising the minimum wage will lead to job loss.” FALSE.

Only a progressive socialist, who never had Econ 101, would come to this conclusion. Sure, some businesses could absorb the added cost, without having to layoff employees. But in countries, with a large sweat labor workforce, like Thailand -- you can't increase this workforce's productivity in a timely-enough fashion, to meet the added cost of a minimum wage. Thus, some flying at the edge businesses will need to close. Others, like my having two gardeners, will need to let one go, as the cost of two gardeners just wouldn't equate to having my hedges trimmed on a timely basis. Thus, sloppy hedges -- even with the one remaining worker now being overworked. Hopefully he will realize what it's now costing him, in added sweat, for that additional wage. Not sure socialists are aware of all the aspects, mainly bad, of a minimum wage. So, certainly some job loss will occur. How could anybody think otherwise?