Minimum wage won't be raised

The wages committee will not raise the minimum wage just because the Ministry of Commerce had reported last month’s inflation rate at 3.7 per cent, the chairman and labour permanent secretary Somchai Chumrat said on Wednesday.

“The inflation rate is only one of several factors in considering whether to increase the minimum wages of workers.

“The committee also has to consider information from the Bank of Thailand, the National Economic and Social Development Board and the Ministry of Finance. It must also take into account whether manufacturers can afford to pay an increase.

“Also, the Ministry of Labour has already raised the daily minimum wage by between one baht and eight baht for almost all provinces in January,” Mr Somchai said.

Even so, the committee would discuss the impact of rising inflation at the meeting scheduled for late this month, he added.

Mr Somchai confirmed that his committee was considering raising minimum wages by 1-3 baht a day for workers in the five provinces where wages were not increased in January, as ordered by the cabinet.

The provinces are Sukhothai, Chiang Rai, Petchabun, Uthai Thani and Mae Hong Son.

A decision would be made this month and then forwarded to the cabinet for final consideration. Any increase for these provinces, if approved, would take effect in June.