Cabinet Postpones Bt300 Minimum Wage Rate

[Buchholz]

42 firms asks Administrative Court to stop wage increase

Up to 42 companies from various industries have lodged a complaint with the Central Administrative Court over an official order requiring employers to significantly raise the daily minimum wages.

The move is the last-ditch attempt by 42 Thai and Japanese firms to block the big pay hike, which they believe the government has pushed for without any appropriate reason.

Their petition may affect more than 5.4 million workers who are hoping to get the higher pay from next month, according to Labour Ministry permanent secretary Somkiat Chayasriwong.

-- The Nation 2012-03-15

[ratcatcher]

I hope the workers get their promised wage increase. Politicians who promised the increase have already seen to it that their pay will increase, so now look after the workers.

[Buchholz]

Wage hike policy causes garment factory relocation

BANGKOK, 17 March 2012 (NNT) – The Thai Garment Manufacturers Association (TGMA) has voiced disagreement to the government’s wage hike policy, which it views as a threat to the garment industry.

TGMA President Sukij Kongpiyacharn disclosed that the THB300 minimum wage policy coupled with the labor shortage had forced the country’s 15 largest garment companies to halt their business expansion in Thailand and turn instead to new investment bases in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

In Mr. Sukij’s opinion, the wage rise policy is only one of the government’s political campaigns and will not really help spur skill development.

Mr. Wallop Witanakorn, TGMA secretary-general said the 15 manufacturers, which had decided to relocate their businesses to neighboring countries, had combined investment value of US$200 million.

The TGMA President cautioned that the wage rise policy would push up production cost by three to six percent which would lead to price hikes. The Thai garment industry may lose its competitive edge in the long run if foreign customers find the price adjustment unacceptable.

The association warned that about 30 percent of small garment factories may have to close down due to their inability to bear higher costs.

-- NNT 2012-03-17

[Colin Yai]

"...following business costs of employers..."

how about the people man? this poor excuse of a new wage means very little costs for these companies. how about their employees that lost everything: no 2-4 month salary, no home, no belongings, some no more families.

this makes me sick how money corrupts the world!

occupy bangkok, anyone?

You go first, let me know how you get on.

i wish, unfortunatly trying to get farang to come with me would be hard as they are here mostly to avert money issues and have a nice holiday or retirement. trying to get thais to come would be harder as they wouldnt understand what the occupy movement is about; no longterm visions.

im not trying to follow reds, yellows or whatever colors that want taksin here or not, the world needs to wake up from this monetary economic system. there is a better system: the resource economy...

Obviously you espouse to full blown Communism ,lessons from the past indicate it was a rip roaring success

[whybother]

TGMA President Sukij Kongpiyacharn disclosed that the THB300 minimum wage policy coupled with the labor shortage had forced the country’s 15 largest garment companies to halt their business expansion in Thailand and turn instead to new investment bases in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Surely one of the reasons for a labour shortage is the fact that they aren't paying enough?

[Buchholz]

the country’s 15 largest garment companies to halt their business expansion in Thailand and turn instead to new investment bases in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

The 15 biggest companies in the country for an industry that is one of the most effected by Yingluck's promise are threatening to pull out.

the 15 manufacturers, which had decided to relocate their businesses to neighboring countries, had combined investment value of US$200 million.

That's a lot of baht (6,153,845,977.78) leaving.

.

Edited March 17, 2012 by Buchholz

[Colin Yai]

TGMA President Sukij Kongpiyacharn disclosed that the THB300 minimum wage policy coupled with the labor shortage had forced the country’s 15 largest garment companies to halt their business expansion in Thailand and turn instead to new investment bases in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Surely one of the reasons for a labour shortage is the fact that they aren't paying enough?

There is a hardcore of young men 19/22 years in my Village who have never ever worked in their lives, but are kept by their Hardworking parents, I call them "cuckoo's in the meadow pipits nest" these loafers are to put it bluntly bone idle and consider themselves too light for heavy work and too heavy for light work ,I have lived in Issan for almost 9 years now and have seen this in many villages , maybe the labour shortage is due that as long as these people can leach off their parents there will always be labour shortages.

[Buchholz]

PM clarifies need for wage hike

BANGKOK, 17 March 2012 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has stressed the importance of the minimum wage rise policy in her Saturday talk show which mainly focused on the high cost of living.

Ms. Yingluck explained that the THB300 minimum wage would enable low-income earners to cope with higher living cost by giving them better access to necessary consumer products, which were becoming more expensive.

She insisted that skill development must be promoted after the wage hike. The Labor Ministry has been assigned to work in tandem with operators on this matter.

As part of the plan to help ease people’s financial difficulties, the free bus and train project will continue. The public will also be urged to adjust to an energy-saving lifestyle.

In addition, the public sector will need to map out energy efficiency strategies and look for new alternative energy sources at the same time.

-- NNT 2012-03-17

[Buchholz]

PM clarifies need for wage hike

BANGKOK, 17 March 2012 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has stressed the importance of the minimum wage rise policy in her Saturday talk show which mainly focused on the high cost of living.

It is so important that 70 provinces have to wait... some for as long as 3 more years.

.

[473geo]

Wage hike to be delayed until April

The Cabinet yesterday approved the postponement of the Bt300 minimum daily wage to April 1 from January 1

The Bt300 rate was due to be implemented first in Bangkok, Phuket, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Sakhon, said Labour Minister Phadermchai Sasomsap, who proposed the delay.

Word this morning of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) representing 100 companies will file a petition with the Administrative Court to stop the government's policy to raise the minimum wage.

They will be joined by 7 employers' associations representing 50 companies in seeking to postpone Yingluck's government's election promise.

The petition is likely to be submitted after April 1st (when the increase is slated to begin), because previous efforts to block it were rejected by the courts based on no damages occurring yet.

.

And there are people on this forum that think Thaksin is running the country

[Colin Yai]

Wage hike to be delayed until April

The Cabinet yesterday approved the postponement of the Bt300 minimum daily wage to April 1 from January 1

The Bt300 rate was due to be implemented first in Bangkok, Phuket, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Sakhon, said Labour Minister Phadermchai Sasomsap, who proposed the delay.

Word this morning of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) representing 100 companies will file a petition with the Administrative Court to stop the government's policy to raise the minimum wage.

They will be joined by 7 employers' associations representing 50 companies in seeking to postpone Yingluck's government's election promise.

The petition is likely to be submitted after April 1st (when the increase is slated to begin), because previous efforts to block it were rejected by the courts based on no damages occurring yet.

.

And there are people on this forum that think Thaksin is running the country

If he is'nt then who is?

[473geo]

Wage hike to be delayed until April

The Cabinet yesterday approved the postponement of the Bt300 minimum daily wage to April 1 from January 1

The Bt300 rate was due to be implemented first in Bangkok, Phuket, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Sakhon, said Labour Minister Phadermchai Sasomsap, who proposed the delay.

Word this morning of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) representing 100 companies will file a petition with the Administrative Court to stop the government's policy to raise the minimum wage.

They will be joined by 7 employers' associations representing 50 companies in seeking to postpone Yingluck's government's election promise.

The petition is likely to be submitted after April 1st (when the increase is slated to begin), because previous efforts to block it were rejected by the courts based on no damages occurring yet.

.

And there are people on this forum that think Thaksin is running the country

If he is'nt then who is?

There is a little hint to part of the powerbase above.....not intended as an insult, but really if you have to ask you are unlikely to understand

[Buchholz]

Another delay in the 300 baht across-the-board-minimum-wage-scheme is being proposed by the Federation of Thai Industries. They are meeting with the Labor Minister tomorrow.

In areas of the country where it has not been implemented yet, they are asking for a delay until January 1, 2015.

They will also be discussing the adverse effects being seen in the 7 provinces where the 300 baht has been implemented.

.

Edited April 19, 2012 by Buchholz

[phiphidon]

Another delay in the 300 baht across-the-board-minimum-wage-scheme is being proposed by the Federation of Thai Industries. They are meeting with the Labor Minister tomorrow.

In areas of the country where it has not been implemented yet, they are asking for a delay until January 1, 2015.

They will also be discussing the adverse effects being seen in the 7 provinces where the 300 baht has been implemented.

.

So it appears even Abhisits election pledge of around 270 baht /day by 2013 would have been met with resistance if all these poor manufacturers cannot manage to make ends meet with 300 baht minimum until 2015 - Incidentally that would mean the minimum wage would not have risen in 15 years.

[whybother]

Another delay in the 300 baht across-the-board-minimum-wage-scheme is being proposed by the Federation of Thai Industries. They are meeting with the Labor Minister tomorrow.

In areas of the country where it has not been implemented yet, they are asking for a delay until January 1, 2015.

They will also be discussing the adverse effects being seen in the 7 provinces where the 300 baht has been implemented.

.

So it appears even Abhisits election pledge of around 270 baht /day by 2013 would have been met with resistance if all these poor manufacturers cannot manage to make ends meet with 300 baht minimum until 2015 - Incidentally that would mean the minimum wage would not have risen in 15 years.

No problem. I'm sure the PTP will live up to their election promise ............................................................

[heiwa]

The outrage! We died for nothing! Many lower rank Reds will be contemplating the burning of more public buildings - time for the alpha male to stand up and show his hair on his chest - now for the lies of the group that was meant to be supporting them. If the Yellows start protesting enmasse as expected bullet proof and grenade proof vests will be the order of the day. You just watch the random crime spike. Watch out farang brothers. Low wages rapidly rising costs - be ready to hand over your 2nd fake wallet or get your throat cut or poisoned (warning don't drink the whole cup of coffee or sleep in hotels cleaned with pesticide) strangled in a rope or thrown of a building or put in a noose after they drug you. Welcome to the real world. Oh! Oh! Oh! I am having an orgasm. I am so happy to be sitting in Laos (Thailand as it once was) where this kind of crap does not happen. They pay the Laos 1,600 baht a month and everything is riap roi

Edited April 19, 2012 by heiwa

[MAJIC]

Wait till those that expect the 300 baht per day will make them 50% better off, find out the reality, that inflation has eaten it all away!

and those that will not see any extra until 2014 and 2015,will see no change,except worse off than now..

[MAJIC]

Sue Yingluck. Didn't she promise immediate 300 baht?

Or have millions of Thai voters taken for a ride?

This is Thailand......wake up....lying is part of their culture. As is politics in general in order to gain votes.

Im sure the people will be quite sympathetic to this part of their culture,when they realise they have been taken for a ride ..............not!

[heiwa]

Wait till those that expect the 300 baht per day will make them 50% better off, find out the reality, that inflation has eaten it all away!

and those that will not see any extra until 2014 and 2015,will see no change,except worse off than now..

Yes natural inflation due to commodity prices. I was always for the Reds but I get the picture the leaders are not delivering on their promises and are like pigs to the trough. I thought that wealth was going to be distributed more fairly but it appears inflation is above commodity price rises and this to my mind could only be contributed to rampant corruption as an extra cost passed onto finished products. My God it may be better have the elite running the country. All my socialist views shattered. Well Taksin is the illusion rather than the embodiement of the socialist. As we saw in Russia - get an uneducated mob of slobs - and you get professional beggars taking kick backs. Is that what we are seeing. Problems is this is too much for the electorate to bear and with Thai politicians publicly blaming foreigners for all their problems we are becoming subject to attack by the impoverished and druggies. For god sake give me a coup! Even though I live in Laos it would nice to see my neighbour in peace mode. I would feel safer visiting Nong Khai and Udon Thani - RED LAND Edited April 19, 2012 by heiwa

[hellodolly]

Seems to me if they follow through on the raise in rice prices there should be no trouble giving the field workers the raise today.How long before Thaksin sells his sister down the river.

Won't be long and there will be a announcement from Dubai.

I tried to help my sister but she just wouldn't listen. I told her not to make those promises.

Edited April 19, 2012 by hellodolly

[hellodolly]

Wait till those that expect the 300 baht per day will make them 50% better off, find out the reality, that inflation has eaten it all away!

and those that will not see any extra until 2014 and 2015,will see no change,except worse off than now..

Yes natural inflation due to commodity prices. I was always for the Reds but I get the picture the leaders are not delivering on their promises and are like pigs to the trough. I thought that wealth was going to be distributed more fairly but it appears inflation is above commodity price rises and this to my mind could only be contributed to rampant corruption as an extra cost passed onto finished products. My God it may be better have the elite running the country. All my socialist views shattered. Well Taksin is the illusion rather than the embodiement of the socialist. As we saw in Russia - get an uneducated mob of slobs - and you get professional beggars taking kick backs. Is that what we are seeing. Problems is this is too much for the electorate to bear and with Thai politicians publicly blaming foreigners for all their problems we are becoming subject to attack by the impoverished and druggies. For god sake give me a coup! Even though I live in Laos it would nice to see my neighbour in peace mode. I would feel safer visiting Nong Khai and Udon Thani - RED LAND

Welcome to the land of reality.

How long in Lao. Seems you have claimed on your posts that you have lived in the south, Bangkok and the North or North east hard to keep up with your travels.

[hellodolly]

Another delay in the 300 baht across-the-board-minimum-wage-scheme is being proposed by the Federation of Thai Industries. They are meeting with the Labor Minister tomorrow.

In areas of the country where it has not been implemented yet, they are asking for a delay until January 1, 2015.

They will also be discussing the adverse effects being seen in the 7 provinces where the 300 baht has been implemented.

.

So it appears even Abhisits election pledge of around 270 baht /day by 2013 would have been met with resistance if all these poor manufacturers cannot manage to make ends meet with 300 baht minimum until 2015 - Incidentally that would mean the minimum wage would not have risen in 15 years.

Well actually in reality (I know you don't like that) It shows Abhist has a better grip on the economic situation than your hero PT. A 10% cut on a nation wide issue is one heck of a lot of money.

I can understand the PT going for the 300 baht as there is a heck of a lot more of them trying to get there snout into the trough.

[heiwa]

Wait till those that expect the 300 baht per day will make them 50% better off, find out the reality, that inflation has eaten it all away!

and those that will not see any extra until 2014 and 2015,will see no change,except worse off than now..

Yes natural inflation due to commodity prices. I was always for the Reds but I get the picture the leaders are not delivering on their promises and are like pigs to the trough. I thought that wealth was going to be distributed more fairly but it appears inflation is above commodity price rises and this to my mind could only be contributed to rampant corruption as an extra cost passed onto finished products. My God it may be better have the elite running the country. All my socialist views shattered. Well Taksin is the illusion rather than the embodiement of the socialist. As we saw in Russia - get an uneducated mob of slobs - and you get professional beggars taking kick backs. Is that what we are seeing. Problems is this is too much for the electorate to bear and with Thai politicians publicly blaming foreigners for all their problems we are becoming subject to attack by the impoverished and druggies. For god sake give me a coup! Even though I live in Laos it would nice to see my neighbour in peace mode. I would feel safer visiting Nong Khai and Udon Thani - RED LAND

Welcome to the land of reality.

How long in Lao. Seems you have claimed on your posts that you have lived in the south, Bangkok and the North or North east hard to keep up with your travels.

I really don't like to comment on my location as it is rather off-topic - although I must say I am guilty of off-topic posts and I don't really understand why people ask me? I don't think it's really allowed but I don't like being called a liar. But yes I have lived and toured in many parts and spent a long travel periods in Laos before my move to there this week. However I find it rather irrelevant to state this. I have spent most of my years in Bangkok. The deep south was very interesting and looking back on my travels there I reflect I was lucky. Many were not. But nothing like the exhiliration of not knowing whether you are going to be alive by every tick tock of the clock. I just had to experience it and once was not enough. Unlikely to do i again however. But then again I am a bit of an exhiliration freak. I heading for Narathiwat after nearly being blown up in Hat Yai but once I got to Chana I decided to go through Nathawee which are still dangerous but nowhere as dangerous as Narathiwat. I guess you could say I love danger but perhaps less so at this moment but that is likely to change. Perception of safety to danger only a bomb blast away. Must say I really do feel like I have lived by seeing the things I have seen. Tak Bai - such an idyllic town - not what one would think could ever be the sight of government massacre by smothering - Taksin time. The often blow up tea houses there. I sat in one while a police man was sitting in the same one. The owner was very nervous. They usually blow up the tea houses when a policeman or other public official is sitting in them. Had an interesting conversation there. Had a gorgeous river and old style wood plank bridge. Such a shame. Place could have been a real hit for tourists. But I supsect it will be a 1,000 year war now after the Tak Bai massacre. I believe insurgency is being backed by outsiders and even the army - many in the army are muslims - the amount of muslims in thailand is woefully understated I believe. In Phuket locals told me there are about 40% muslims. What a lot of people don't understand about Thailand is that there is a real evil side and its quite common. I saw it for 15km riding my bike at 140km/hr with the robbing sitting behind me all the way. Robbers randomly shoot people from the ditches of roads. Random violence in rural areas is rampant in the South. The Bangkok post is a real censored version. I can read thai newspapers and it is absolutely horrific what goes on here. 100 dead with the red clashes - for a thai that doesn't really mean much. You would need 10,000 to make it mean something. Get someone to read a Thai newspaper to you one day and you'll see what I mean. The papers are littered with the word, corpse (sop). And the odd thing with me as a farang here 100 dead means absolutely nothing to me. The murders are so out of control that I can't relate to a westerner being disgusted with 100 dead. I got a shock when a Malay in KL showed horror at the 100 dead. I always assumed that was normal - all in a days work. This how you see things here after a while. Edited April 19, 2012 by heiwa

[hellodolly]

Wait till those that expect the 300 baht per day will make them 50% better off, find out the reality, that inflation has eaten it all away!

and those that will not see any extra until 2014 and 2015,will see no change,except worse off than now..

Yes natural inflation due to commodity prices. I was always for the Reds but I get the picture the leaders are not delivering on their promises and are like pigs to the trough. I thought that wealth was going to be distributed more fairly but it appears inflation is above commodity price rises and this to my mind could only be contributed to rampant corruption as an extra cost passed onto finished products. My God it may be better have the elite running the country. All my socialist views shattered. Well Taksin is the illusion rather than the embodiement of the socialist. As we saw in Russia - get an uneducated mob of slobs - and you get professional beggars taking kick backs. Is that what we are seeing. Problems is this is too much for the electorate to bear and with Thai politicians publicly blaming foreigners for all their problems we are becoming subject to attack by the impoverished and druggies. For god sake give me a coup! Even though I live in Laos it would nice to see my neighbour in peace mode. I would feel safer visiting Nong Khai and Udon Thani - RED LAND

Welcome to the land of reality.

How long in Lao. Seems you have claimed on your posts that you have lived in the south, Bangkok and the North or North east hard to keep up with your travels.

I really don't like to comment on my location as it is rather off-topic - although I must say I am guilty of off-topic posts and I don't really understand why people ask me? I don't think it's really allowed but I don't like being called a liar. But yes I have lived and toured in many parts and spent a long travel periods in Laos before my move to there this week. However I find it rather irrelevant to state this. I have spent most of my years in Bangkok. The deep south was very interesting and looking back on my travels there I reflect I was lucky. Many were not. But nothing like the exhiliration of not knowing whether you are going to be alive by every tick tock of the clock. I just had to experience it and once was not enough. Unlikely to do i again however. But then again I am a bit of an exhiliration freak. I heading for Narathiwat after nearly being blown up in Hat Yai but once I got to Chana I decided to go through Nathawee which are still dangerous but nowhere as dangerous as Narathiwat. I guess you could say I love danger but perhaps less so at this moment but that is likely to change. Perception of safety to danger only a bomb blast away. Must say I really do feel like I have lived by seeing the things I have seen. Tak Bai - such an idyllic town - not what one would think could ever be the sight of government massacre by smothering - Taksin time. The often blow up tea houses there. I sat in one while a police man was sitting in the same one. The owner was very nervous. They usually blow up the tea houses when a policeman or other public official is sitting in them. Had an interesting conversation there. Had a gorgeous river and old style wood plank bridge. Such a shame. Place could have been a real hit for tourists. But I supsect it will be a 1,000 year war now after the Tak Bai massacre. I believe insurgency is being backed by outsiders and even the army - many in the army are muslims - the amount of muslims in thailand is woefully understated I believe. In Phuket locals told me there are about 40% muslims. What a lot of people don't understand about Thailand is that there is a real evil side and its quite common. I saw it for 15km riding my bike at 140km/hr with the robbing sitting behind me all the way. Robbers randomly shoot people from the ditches of roads. Random violence in rural areas is rampant in the South. The Bangkok post is a real censored version. I can read thai newspapers and it is absolutely horrific what goes on here. 100 dead with the red clashes - for a thai that doesn't really mean much. You would need 10,000 to make it mean something. Get someone to read a Thai newspaper to you one day and you'll see what I mean. The papers are littered with the word, corpse (sop). And the odd thing with me as a farang here 100 dead means absolutely nothing to me. The murders are so out of control that I can't relate to a westerner being disgusted with 100 dead. I got a shock when a Malay in KL showed horror at the 100 dead. I always assumed that was normal - all in a days work. This how you see things here after a while.

I just posted what I did because each subject you made it sound like you had lived there for years. Any way sounds exciting.

Can't read Thai but not surprised at there being a heck of a lot more deaths in there news papers. Western papers tend to let things like that go when it becomes common.

What is horrifying about 100 being killed is that they can justify it, And I mean both sides. Take the red shirts they maintain that they did nothing wrong in closing down a part of the city and leaving it looking like a garbage dump. The barricades where needed to protect them from being evicted off of public property and they got away with it. In fact some of them made big money off of it.

The corruption in Lao is a lot worse than Thailand but at least it is not to violent. Thailand gets refugees from Lao Lao dosen't get any from Thailand.

The 2008 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index

ranked Thailand as in a 5 way Thai for #80 in a list of corrupt nations.

Lao was ranked in a 7way tie for 151 in a list of 180 countries for corruption.

[Buchholz]

Labour leader opposes minimum wage hike delay in 70 provinces

BANGKOK, 6 July 2012 (NNT) - A labour group is voicing their opposition to the government’s possible plan to further defer the nationwide wage hike, scheduled for 2013.

Chalee Loysoong, the President of the Thai Labor Solidarity Committee (TLSC) said that according to a recent survey conducted by the Ministry of Labour and the Board of Trade of Thailand, the minimum wage increase policy did not improve the overall quality of life for Thai workers.

The survey results also stated that over 82 percent of local SMEs failed to adjust to the sharp rise in the minimum wage.

The new minimum wage rule has been imposed in 7 pilot provinces on April 1st, and will be in effect for the rest of the country on January 1st, 2013.

Mr Chalee said that due to the rising prices of goods and services in the country, SME business operators are facing growing pressure from the implementation of the new wage policy.

He urged the government to maintain their plan to increase the national minimum wage by January of next year and to consider introducing more measures to cushion the impact from the wage hike as business operators in 70 other provinces in Thailand were forced to shoulder heavier financial burden without benefiting from the new rule.

Price-control measures and soft loans for SME entrepreneurs, Mr Chalee said, will keep businesses afloat while the government devises a longer-term strategy to assist business affected by the wage hike.

-- NNT 2012-07-06

.

Edited July 6, 2012 by Buchholz