PM quizzed on Bt300 wage

In his question to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Prasert said the Pheu Thai Party used the word "minimum wage" during the election campaign and later changed it to "income" - as "minimum wage" was net payment for work while "income" could include work payments and other welfare. He wondered when the government would deliver the Bt300 wage.

Prasert said the voterwooing campaign promised to increase the minimum wage to Bt300 nationwide right away, but only seven pilot provinces have so far received it such as Phuket with a rise from Bt221 per day to Bt310.

Phadermchai, answering on the premier's behalf, said the government had campaigned by promising only "labourers will get Bt300." The hike in income to Bt300 must wait for the consent from tri parties and undergo the annual budgeting for fiscal year 2012, combined with the individual income tax reduction from 30 per cent to 23 per cent next year and 20 per cent soon. He said it would take 34 years before all provinces received the Bt300 income per day.