Govt told not to interfere in minimum wage

The government earlier floated a flat wage countrywide, regardless of the cost of living in each area.

After meeting yesterday, the committee issued a statement opposing the government's populist policy to increase the daily minimum wage to Bt250 for the whole country, saying it should be based on various factors such as the economic growth rate, inflation and employers' financial ability.

Committee chairman Dusit Nontanakorn said the govern�ment should let the tripartite Labour Wage Committee do the work and decide fairly what is an appropriate rate for unskilled workers in each area.

At present, the minimum wage ranges from Bt151Bt206, with the higher rates applied to more industri�alised or developed areas.

Chen Namchaisiri, vice chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, said each province already has a committee to consider the minimum wage.

The government should not intervene in their work.

Mathee Supapongse, an official of the Bank of Thailand, said a wage increase beyond the inflation rate could push up prices.

The central bank targets inflation of 2.53.8 per cent this year.