Gratuities cannot be part of wageLabour Minister Phadermchai Sasomsap said yesterday that extra income from gratuity or service charges could not be included in the Bt300 daily minimum wage, but if any employer insists on including the service charge, he must discuss it with the workers22 Mar 12 The Nation This would be an employment change so the Labour Court's mediation service could be used if both sides couldn't agree, he said. Arthit Isamo, director-general of the Labour Protection and Welfare Department, said the service charge was considered as welfare under the Labour Relations Act. The Supreme Court has also ruled that an employer could keep 22 per cent of the service charge for workers' welfare and share the rest among the staff, he said. Since it was money from customers, not from the employer, it wasn't a wage, he added. From April 1, Bangkok, Phuket, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Nonthaburi will hike the daily minimum wage to Bt300. |
