Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin welcomed Dr. Taweekiat, Vice President of the Employers’ Organization Council, on the occasion of bringing representatives of the Employers’ Organization Councils, which includes the Employers’ Confederation of Thailand, the Employers’ Association, the Small & Medium Industrial Institute, the Employers’ Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry, and 40-50 employers’ confederations to meet the Labour Minister. They submitted a letter requesting the Prime Minister to expedite the consideration of the minimum wage as fact and appropriate, which did not agree to the increase from 331 Baht to 492 Baht nationwide. Assistant to the Labour Minister Mr. Surachai Chaitrakulthong, Secretariat to the Labour Minister Mr. Suthep Chitvong, Assistant Minister from the Prime Minister’s Office performing duties for the Ministry of Labour Mr. Suthi Sukosol, Advisor to the Labour Minister Dr. Chamlong Chuayrod, Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Boonchob Suttamanaswong, and the Ministry of Labour’s executives also joined the occasion at the Chatumongkol Room, 6th floor, Ministry of Labour.
Mr. Suchart said that for considering the minimum wage rate each time, a Wage Committee or Wage Board represents the tripartite organizations from three parties. They include the government, employers, and employees. The committee considers and consults carefully before reaching a consensus together. Although, the current minimum wage rate is effective from January 1, 2020, until now.
In 2022, the Wage Committee has formulated a plan to review the appropriateness of the minimum wage rate. It is currently allowing the subcommittee to consider the minimum wage rate at the provincial level and the subcommittee on the consideration of the minimum wage rate of Bangkok to meet and consider the appropriateness of the minimum wage rate in the provinces and Bangkok. The assignment will be completed by July 2022 and thus, has not yet been concluded. The Wage Committee will then consider all information to be completed by September 2022.
Dr. Taweekiat said that today the Employers’ Organization Council does not agree to raise the minimum wage during this period, as the economic conditions have not fully recovered from the COVID-19 situation. Some employers have to temporarily suspend their businesses. There is a labour shortage, and the situation with COVID-19 has not improved. Tourists have not fully returned to travel in the country. Additionally, the conflict between neighboring countries and the Russia-Ukraine conflict has not been resolved. Thus, they asked that the government be the party to determine the wage rate, as the Employers Organization Council and employers’ associations do not see it as appropriate during this period. They also see it appropriate that the tripartite committee, by the government, determine the minimum wage because there are tools, equipment, and personnel involved as presenters.
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Division of Public Relations
29 April 2022
