Kittiratt: B300 daily wage plan still on

The government's plan to increase the labour minimum wage to 300 baht per day from April 1 next year will still be carried out despite the flood which has severely affected the economy and the value-added tax (VAT) will not be increased from the current rate of 7 per cent, Deputy Prime Minister Kittirat Na Ranong said on Sunday.

Mr Kittiratt said this after presiding a ceremony to open the 29th seminar of representatives of chambers of commerce from throughout the country in Rayong province.

He said that despite the flood situation, the increase in the country's exports during the first eight months was as high as 24 per cent, and the overall increase in export this year was believed to be 15 per cent.

Mr Kittiratt said that because of this he believed the private sector would be able to cope with the government's plan to increase the labour minimum wage to 300 baht per day from April 1 next year.

The government also has no plan to increase the VAT from the current rate of 7 per cent, he said.