Minimum Wage Rises May Be Sooner Than Later

[Jai Dee]

Labor Ministry says there is tendency for sooner-than-designated rises in minimum wages this year

The Ministry of Labor has disclosed that there is tendency for sooner-than-designated rises in wages this year. In the meantime the employee side in the Central Wage Committee has pointed has the minimum wage in Bangkok should be raised by no less than 6 baht.

Pornchai Yuprayong (พรชัย อยู่ประยงค์), the inspector-general at the Ministry of Labor, spoke on the matter in his capacity as a member of the government side in the Central Wage Committee. He said that this year there is tendency for wages to rise earlier than designated, and he will bring up the issue of expensive oil prices to be used as a factor in considering raising the minimum wages in the upcoming meeting of the Central Wage Committee in early May.

Chaiyaphorn Chanthana (ชัยพร จันทนา), a Central Wage Committee member from the employee side, said that unofficial talks among committee members yield the view that minimum wages will be adjusted twice this year.

He detailed further that no less than a rise of 6 baht should be the case for Bangkok, while some provinces have asked for as high as 10 baht in upward adjustment. However this would have to wait for each province to send in their numbers to the Labor Ministry by the end of this month.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 26 April 2006

[jdinasia]

pretty much a no-brainer ....

Minimum wages must increase ... having seen the increases in transportation costs just for people to get to work ... not to mention how things being transported all cost just a little bit more ... using equipment costs more ... etc

hope they go with the 10 baht or more increase .. even though it will also lead to more inflation at a guess.

[cclub75]

hope they go with the 10 baht or more increase .. even though it will also lead to more inflation at a guess.

No !

In thailand, like other countries, you can increase wages, gasoline price, transportation costs and even sugar price, without increasing inflation.

It's magic. Black magic.

Anyway, Miss BOT is likely to going to continue to increase the interest rates...

[h90]

I think thats crazy, economic does not run to well, inflation is already high and that will turbo-boost the inflation increase due to the expensive oil.

that idea does not work anyway, increase wages will increase inflation, will lower the thai baht (in long term) will make the gasoline which depends on baht/dollar to the same high percentage of salary.

By the way gasoline is still to cheap for thailand. Everyone is sad about the high price but noone get any idea on how to safe gasoline.

Just yesterday one man was in my office, he came with his pickup and let it run outside for 1 hour will speaking with me, he has no money and complained about the high diesel price, but let the car run alone for 1 hour.....