Wage adjustments have to take employer’s spending power into account.

Permanent secretary of Labor Ministry Jarupong Ruengsuwan (จารุพงศ์ เรืองสุวรรณ) said that minimum wage adjustments must take employers’ spending power into consideration.

Mr. Jarupong, who is also President of the central wage committee, commented on Prime Minister Thaksin Shinnawat’s order for the National Economic and Social Development Board and the Labor Ministry to consider raising minimum wages, that the labor ministry is conducting a study into the employers’ spending power, as information from the Department of Labor Protection and Welfare indicates that around 205 small and medium-sized enterprises are unable to pay minimum salaries to a total number of 692 employees. He said that the ministry has coordinated with the NESDB and the Commerce Ministry to conduct a study on the overall impacts of wage adjustments, especially effects on investments, exports, and consumer spending. He said that living costs, inflation rate, and oil prices have to be taken into account.

Mr. Jarupong said that the adjustment was not due to pressure from any parties, and will follow all criteria. He said that the committee will hold another meeting on March 9 and expect to receive clearer information.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 21 Febuary 2006

He said that living costs, inflation rate, and oil prices have to be taken into account.

And those factors do not affect the employees??????????????????????????

Yet another politician suffering from Foot in Mouth disease.

He said that living costs, inflation rate, and oil prices have to be taken into account.

And those factors do not affect the employees??????????????????????????

Yet another politician suffering from Foot in Mouth disease.

People who make minimum wage are poor people. Thus, they don't count and he doesn't care about their suffering. I doubt most middle class or better Thais would even catch it.

205 enterprises 692 employees That is 3.5 employees per enterprise

Small and medium size enterprises are having trouble paying 3.5 employees the extra --what is it-- and extra 20 baht per day.

Ban him. I say send him to an inactive post.

These owners are haing trouble paying their three mia nois and keeping them in the newest Mercs, banking enormous profits made from the labor of the poor and oppressed whose labor leaders get killed. Make the increase in the minimum wage and take some of the unerarned profits back from the slave-drivers. The are not going to go out of business, produce less or move their projects overseas.

If they cant remain profitable whilst sticking to the law then its not a viable company, Can't honestly see tan extra 16 baht a day or whatever breaking any honest company.

there was the same uproar in UK when a minimum wage was initroduced, all the sweatshop owners complaining they would go out of business etc, well they did, but only because the chinese work for a dollar a day

Oh please, business has used this argument against every wage, benefit or safety issue of the last 150 years. Do you want to go back to 18 hour work days, no health or safety regulations, child labor, etc?

If wage was the only issue, no one in NYC, London, Tokyo or any other high wage place would have a job. Lots of other factors are at play in the loss of jobs to China and India.

Reminds me of my neighbor. Three new cars, multi-million baht house. B20 a month for trash pick up! Can't afford it, better to throw trash in the vacant lot or someone elses bin.