Private sector calls on Yingluck to step down

[webfact]

Private sector calls on Yingluck to step down



BANGKOK: -- The private sector today called on caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to resign, saying any insistence to cling power could plunge the country into anarchy.

Federation of Thai Industries vice president Sommart Kunset cited the bomb attack in That province on Saturday which he said was so violent and merely showed that there was an armed group which does not accept the state power and that her caretaker government could not do anything to deal with the situation.

He said there was only one choice for her to take and that was her and all her caretaker cabinet minister to resign en masse.

He said if she refused to step down and insisted to cling on to power, then the country could plunge into anarchy.

He also called on the caretaker prime minister to lift the state of emergency as soon as possible saying it had inflicted damage to economy.

He said trading partners have voiced concern about the state of emergency and amid the violent incidents which happened almost daily, they were not confident if Thai manufacturers could be able to constantly supply if they should place orders for Thai goods.

Thailand had political instabilities over the past decade but economy could still grow, except during the past two years when economy was intervened by politicians.

He cited the rice pledging scheme, the 300 baht minimum wage, which had proved to be wrong, and failed policies and a heavy blow to the private sector.

This had undermined the strength of the private sector to drive the country’s economy to grow.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/private-sector-calls-yingluck-step/


-- Thai PBS 2014-02-24

[winstonc]

a good story except for not liking the minimum wage..all business bosses hate workers having a living wage...they moaned in the uk but it had no impact ...sorry that was off topic..its a concern if big business is not happy,

[haroldc]

Bravo! And it would be quite a stretch to label the Federation of Thai Industries as pro-PDRC.

[Tatsujin]

Will arrest warrants be issued for Sommart now he's rebelling against the Govt?

[TVGerry]

If the government loses control of the situation and lets chaos reign and bombs explode without being able to do anything then they should go.

How many more bombs have to explode? She and her brother's cronies are so concentrated on taking down Suthep and the protestors but she's ignoring the violence and not doing anything to stop it. Just take that flight to Dubai.

[Mosha]

Will arrest warrants be issued for Sommart now he's rebelling against the Govt?

No but his address may be given out.

[binjalin]

typical elitist clap trap

let's get rid of the minimum wage so we can further keep the peasants controlled

horrible and heartless

[Scamper]

The private sector has long held the view that the Yingluck administration's ever precarious grip is fading, and that it is hurting the economy, let alone things like the rice scheme scandal. And now, the reality of a quorum-less parliament, terrorist attacks on innocent civilians, an emergency decree that has been neither effective nor fair in its implementation, and rising threats of unrest now from the UDD - point to a calamitous situation that requires Yingluck to step down. She has to make that call - in the best interests of the country - and she also has the responsibility to call on the UDD to respect her decision. More than anything else - Yingluck needs to make an overseas call, tell her brother she's had enough of him, and slam the receiver down. And then charge the call collect.

[Basil B]

a good story except for not liking the minimum wage..all business bosses hate workers having a living wage...they moaned in the uk but it had no impact ...sorry that was off topic..its a concern if big business is not happy,

I agree with you, it is about the only good thing this government has done, I can also understand the VP of Thai Industries saying his member do not like it, they have to compete in markets where there is no minimum wage.

[angsta]

Your days are over, the tide is turning.

[ourmanflint]

Don't worry I'm sure she will soon be making a new Facebook post explaining things to foreign investors, and how "everything is sweet in the land of milk and honey!!" please bring us your money, no worry about a few protestors.." smiley face smiley face

[Soutpeel]

Bravo! And it would be quite a stretch to label the Federation of Thai Industries as pro-PDRC.

But be assured the resident TV red's are going to try none the less..... Suthep is a fascist you know

[haroldc]

a good story except for not liking the minimum wage..all business bosses hate workers having a living wage...they moaned in the uk but it had no impact ...sorry that was off topic..its a concern if big business is not happy,

I'm a "business boss" (80+ employees) and I'm in favor of workers have a better than living wage. The problem is that the minimum wage was raised to 300 baht without considering the resulting impact on the costs of goods and services. I live in an ordinary working-class Thai neighborhood because it's a 200 meter walk to my office. Prices of food alone (small shops on the soi) have increased more than 25% in the past year. Most of my neighbors say that although wages were increased, they are worse off than before,

Edited February 24, 2014 by haroldc

[millwall_fan]

Yawn! Another branch of the ruling elite are wheeled out to fan the dying embers of mr. Sutheps insurrection. Only the courts can save him now.

How has the state of emergency harmed the economy? It is the daily protests that have harmed the economy.

Effectively this group supports Suthep because he says he'll reduce the minimum wage. I don't know how people manage on 300 ฿ a day, let alone any less. The minimum wage is a populist policy according to the ruling elite. It's a populist policy that allows millions of Thais to live with some dignity. Not much, but some, and now the RE would like to take it away. No wonder PT keep winning elections!

[iancnx]

a good story except for not liking the minimum wage..all business bosses hate workers having a living wage...they moaned in the uk but it had no impact ...sorry that was off topic..its a concern if big business is not happy,

Impossible to agree with you. Have you ever heard of a 33% hike in the minimum wage anywhere else in the world? No! Absolutely unsustainable! Business folk and economists understand this only too well.

[ourmanflint]

Yawn! Another branch of the ruling elite are wheeled out to fan the dying embers of mr. Sutheps insurrection. Only the courts can save him now.

How has the state of emergency harmed the economy? It is the daily protests that have harmed the economy.

Effectively this group supports Suthep because he says he'll reduce the minimum wage. I don't know how people manage on 300 ฿ a day, let alone any less. The minimum wage is a populist policy according to the ruling elite. It's a populist policy that allows millions of Thais to live with some dignity. Not much, but some, and now the RE would like to take it away. No wonder PT keep winning elections!

Say anything just don't mention the rice pledging scheme... shh!

[Prbkk]

Nothing more than vested interests trying to reclaim power. Ho hum

[seajae]

the basic wage needed to be improved but increasing as much as they did so quick buggered things a bit, a 50% increase overnight is simply too much too quick and hard to adjust too, just look at the costs of living rises since it happened and the job losses. The appologists will be in to attack this of course but the business council are the ones that know exactly what is happening to the countries finances and they also understand more than the slimy politicians what is needed to get the country running again.

[iancnx]

a good story except for not liking the minimum wage..all business bosses hate workers having a living wage...they moaned in the uk but it had no impact ...sorry that was off topic..its a concern if big business is not happy,

I agree with you, it is about the only good thing this government has done, I can also understand the VP of Thai Industries saying his member do not like it, they have to compete in markets where there is no minimum wage.

The reality in my village is there is less work than before, because local employers of labour and low skilled cannot afford to pay. So business is down. They have priced themselves out of the market. More unemployment. Add to this the the associated increase in the cost of living ( substantial ) the rural poor are I fact poorer because of the barking mad 33% increase. Harsh reality is evident for all to see in truly rural Thailand. I wouldn't mind betting small businesses all over will not be able to cope with the increase either. Folly, stupid populist policy. Edited February 24, 2014 by iancnx

[Mentors]

Which private sector? Singha Brewery, CP Fresh...?

[whybother]

Yawn! Another branch of the ruling elite are wheeled out to fan the dying embers of mr. Sutheps insurrection. Only the courts can save him now.

How has the state of emergency harmed the economy? It is the daily protests that have harmed the economy.

Effectively this group supports Suthep because he says he'll reduce the minimum wage. I don't know how people manage on 300 ฿ a day, let alone any less. The minimum wage is a populist policy according to the ruling elite. It's a populist policy that allows millions of Thais to live with some dignity. Not much, but some, and now the RE would like to take it away. No wonder PT keep winning elections!

When did Suthep say that he'll reduce the minimum wage?

[Soutpeel]

I don't know how people manage on 300 ฿ a day, let alone any less. The minimum wage is a populist policy according to the ruling elite. It's a populist policy that allows millions of Thais to live with some dignity. Not much, but some, and now the RE would like to take it away. No wonder PT keep winning elections!

Ask the rice farmers, they are surviving on less than THB 300/day cos the PTP aint paid them, so yes lets talk about millions of Thai people living with a bit of dignity shall we ?

[iancnx]

Yawn! Another branch of the ruling elite are wheeled out to fan the dying embers of mr. Sutheps insurrection. Only the courts can save him now.

How has the state of emergency harmed the economy? It is the daily protests that have harmed the economy.

Effectively this group supports Suthep because he says he'll reduce the minimum wage. I don't know how people manage on 300 ฿ a day, let alone any less. The minimum wage is a populist policy according to the ruling elite. It's a populist policy that allows millions of Thais to live with some dignity. Not much, but some, and now the RE would like to take it away. No wonder PT keep winning elections!

Disagree. The poor are worse off. A sustainable rise in the minimum wage would have been good. But the 33% rise! or is it 50% rise? is absolutely barking mad.

[Mosha]

a good story except for not liking the minimum wage..all business bosses hate workers having a living wage...they moaned in the uk but it had no impact ...sorry that was off topic..its a concern if big business is not happy,

Impossible to agree with you. Have you ever heard of a 33% hike in the minimum wage anywhere else in the world? No! Absolutely unsustainable! Business folk and economists understand this only too well.

All I remember is that when we got an above inflation rise. There were always consequences. ie job cuts.

[ratcatcher]

Anyone recall which day she promised to pay the farmers off? IIRC, she promised this week and they turned their tractors around. Why if there is no money to pay? What's the "cut off" date?

Last week when the faux convoy of 'farmers' came down and suddenly did an about turn, Yingluck said they would be paid next week.

We are now on day 1 of 'next week'. this being Monday February 24th, thus the "government" have another 5 days to try and scratch up the required funds.

[tim armstrong]

The list of thai organisations with non partisan views who think its time for the government to go, grows daily. I hope Yingluck gets the message very soon.

[Prbkk]

Anyone recall which day she promised to pay the farmers off? IIRC, she promised this week and they turned their tractors around. Why if there is no money to pay? What's the "cut off" date?

Last week when the faux convoy of 'farmers' came down and suddenly did an about turn, Yingluck said they would be paid next week.

We are now on day 1 of 'next week'. this being Monday February 24th, thus the "government" have another 5 days to try and scratch up the required funds.

That would be a different convoy from the Thong Lor farmers coming on the BTS . Maybe having some rhapis palms on the balcony qualifies one to be a "farmer"

[winstonc]

a good story except for not liking the minimum wage..all business bosses hate workers having a living wage...they moaned in the uk but it had no impact ...sorry that was off topic..its a concern if big business is not happy,

Impossible to agree with you. Have you ever heard of a 33% hike in the minimum wage anywhere else in the world? No! Absolutely unsustainable! Business folk and economists understand this only too well.

admittidly i didnt know it was 33%.but im still in favour of minimum wages for everyone.why should the rich have it all..

[iancnx]

Yawn! Another branch of the ruling elite are wheeled out to fan the dying embers of mr. Sutheps insurrection. Only the courts can save him now.

How has the state of emergency harmed the economy? It is the daily protests that have harmed the economy.

Effectively this group supports Suthep because he says he'll reduce the minimum wage. I don't know how people manage on 300 ฿ a day, let alone any less. The minimum wage is a populist policy according to the ruling elite. It's a populist policy that allows millions of Thais to live with some dignity. Not much, but some, and now the RE would like to take it away. No wonder PT keep winning elections!

Imagine you own a bar/restaurant with 5 employees who used to get 200 a day and now you have to pay 300 a day. That is 500 a day on your daily wage bill, or, 15,000 per month. You would need to sell a lot of beer, pies and Sunday roasts to recoup that. That's assuming you were breaking even in the first place.

So the worst case scenario is you go out of business and x5 Thais are unemployed.

Best case scenario is you convince them to stick with the 200 rate

Edited February 24, 2014 by iancnx

[Mosha]

Yawn! Another branch of the ruling elite are wheeled out to fan the dying embers of mr. Sutheps insurrection. Only the courts can save him now.

How has the state of emergency harmed the economy? It is the daily protests that have harmed the economy.

Effectively this group supports Suthep because he says he'll reduce the minimum wage. I don't know how people manage on 300 ฿ a day, let alone any less. The minimum wage is a populist policy according to the ruling elite. It's a populist policy that allows millions of Thais to live with some dignity. Not much, but some, and now the RE would like to take it away. No wonder PT keep winning elections!

Actually I would think food price inflation has left quite a hole in any extra the got.