October 4th, 2007, 15:02
Wage rise discrepancy upsets union
The Labour Ministry plans to raise the minimum daily wage by Bt1-Bt8 in the provinces but just Bt2-Bt4 in Bangkok. Published on October 4, 2007
Labour groups slammed the planned Bangkok raise as inadequate to cover rising costs, with items such as fish sauce and cooking gas costing more from December.
Labour Congress of Thailand (LCT) chairman Panas Thailuan, a member of the ministry's sub-committee scrutinising the minimum wage proposal, said 65 provinces had so far responded to the request for wage rise proposals.
But 18 provinces in the Northeast - except Loei - and provinces such as Nan, Phayao and Mae Hong Son in the North, with the country's lowest wage of Bt143 a day, did not request a raise, Panas said.
Provincial sub-committees had decided that with the slow economy, they did not want to impact on business operators. They also preferred an elected government to consider their wage hike, he said.
Panas said the sub-committee would propose wage rises as suggested by the provincial panels ranging from Bt1 to Bt8.
Bangkok's initial request for a Bt7 hike was adjusted by the provincial sub-panel to Bt2 on the grounds that workers currently received Bt191 a day and an extra Bt7 would be too high. Panas said the sub-committee felt Bt4 would be more appropriate.
The Bangkok wage would be further discussed so it would not be inequitable to nearby provinces such as Samut Prakan that requested a Bt6 hike.
Ayutthaya and Loei asked for Bt8, while other provinces asked for Bt3-Bt7.
Panas said the sub-committee would scrutinise the provincial proposals next week and submit figures to the Central Wage Committee and the Cabinet. The wage rise would start from January 1.
The sub-committee would consider factors such as employers' ability to pay such wages, industrial production, the inflation rate, employment rate and the country's gross domestic product, he said.
Thai Labour Reconciliation Committee president Wilaiwan Saetia said if Bangkok workers received only Bt2-Bt4 extra, it would not cover higher living costs, especially as the authorities intend to increase the price of fish sauce, sugar and cooking gas in December. She warned a Bt2-Bt4 hike would lead to a labour movement against the government, which should raise the Bangkok daily wage to Bt223.
The Nation
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Let's see -
In Udon; 143baht per day, 6 days a week, 10 hours a day is about 258 hours a month at 14.3 baht per hour for a total of 3,689 baht per month across the year.
In Bangkok; 223 baht per day, comes out to 22.3 baht per hour for a total of 5,753 baht per month across the year.
Minimum wage Bangkok workers get about 56% more than Udon.
The Labour Ministry plans to raise the minimum daily wage by Bt1-Bt8 in the provinces but just Bt2-Bt4 in Bangkok. Published on October 4, 2007
Labour groups slammed the planned Bangkok raise as inadequate to cover rising costs, with items such as fish sauce and cooking gas costing more from December.
Labour Congress of Thailand (LCT) chairman Panas Thailuan, a member of the ministry's sub-committee scrutinising the minimum wage proposal, said 65 provinces had so far responded to the request for wage rise proposals.
But 18 provinces in the Northeast - except Loei - and provinces such as Nan, Phayao and Mae Hong Son in the North, with the country's lowest wage of Bt143 a day, did not request a raise, Panas said.
Provincial sub-committees had decided that with the slow economy, they did not want to impact on business operators. They also preferred an elected government to consider their wage hike, he said.
Panas said the sub-committee would propose wage rises as suggested by the provincial panels ranging from Bt1 to Bt8.
Bangkok's initial request for a Bt7 hike was adjusted by the provincial sub-panel to Bt2 on the grounds that workers currently received Bt191 a day and an extra Bt7 would be too high. Panas said the sub-committee felt Bt4 would be more appropriate.
The Bangkok wage would be further discussed so it would not be inequitable to nearby provinces such as Samut Prakan that requested a Bt6 hike.
Ayutthaya and Loei asked for Bt8, while other provinces asked for Bt3-Bt7.
Panas said the sub-committee would scrutinise the provincial proposals next week and submit figures to the Central Wage Committee and the Cabinet. The wage rise would start from January 1.
The sub-committee would consider factors such as employers' ability to pay such wages, industrial production, the inflation rate, employment rate and the country's gross domestic product, he said.
Thai Labour Reconciliation Committee president Wilaiwan Saetia said if Bangkok workers received only Bt2-Bt4 extra, it would not cover higher living costs, especially as the authorities intend to increase the price of fish sauce, sugar and cooking gas in December. She warned a Bt2-Bt4 hike would lead to a labour movement against the government, which should raise the Bangkok daily wage to Bt223.
The Nation
-----------------
Let's see -
In Udon; 143baht per day, 6 days a week, 10 hours a day is about 258 hours a month at 14.3 baht per hour for a total of 3,689 baht per month across the year.
In Bangkok; 223 baht per day, comes out to 22.3 baht per hour for a total of 5,753 baht per month across the year.
Minimum wage Bangkok workers get about 56% more than Udon.