On August 22, 2024, at 09.30 hours, the Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, welcomed the President of the Japan External Trade Organization to Bangkok (JETRO Bangkok), Mr. Kuroda Jun, and the President of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce Bangkok (JCC Bangkok), Mr. To Kozo, and delegation, to present data from the economic trend survey report of Japanese joint venture companies in Thailand in the first half of 2024. The Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Pairoj Chotikasathien, the Social Security Office’s Secretary-General, Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, the Ministry of Labour’s Inspector-General, Mr. Samat Pattamasukon, the Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of Labour, Mr. Sakdinart Sonthisakyotin, and the Ministry of Labour’s executives joined in giving a welcome at the Prasong Rananant Meeting Room, 5th floor, Ministry of Labour.
Mr. Phiphat said that JETRO Bangkok and JCC Bangkok work closely with the Ministry of Labour, government agencies, and economic organizations. They play an essential role in strengthening trade and investment relations and helping Japanese joint ventures create employment and promote the Thai economy. Regarding the concerns of Japanese businesses in Thailand around the increase to the 400-Baht minimum wage, the Ministry of Labour has prepared measures to help businesses in Thailand with the changes, as follows: 1. Reduce employers’ social security contributions by 1% for 12 months. 2. Reduce business expenses by 1.5%, whereby the Ministry of Labour will discuss this further with the Ministry of Finance. 3. Businesses with 200 or more employees will increase wages based on actual working days, and small companies with less than 200 employees will continue to use the original wage measures for 12 months. Based on the survey results reported, the Ministry of Labour is ready to use the data as a guideline for creating labour policies to support and solve challenges for Japanese businesses and investors in Thailand.
The President of the Japan External Trade Organization to Bangkok (JETRO Bangkok), Mr. Kuroda Jun, thanked the Labour Minister for the opportunity to meet today. He thanked the Labour Minister for the Ministry of Labour’s measures to support entrepreneurs after the wage increase and the measures for requesting short-term work permits in Thailand. From the survey of the economic outlook of Japanese joint venture companies in Thailand in the first half of 2024, the labour sector found that the economic outlook index has improved but is still in a difficult situation. As for investments, 23% increased investment, and 45% maintained investment. As for the issue of corporate management, the number one issue is competition with other companies and increased personnel expenses, with higher raw material prices ranked second and third, respectively. He also requested that the Thai government help promote and stimulate the economy (consumption) to move towards good relations on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Thailand.
The President of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Bangkok (JCC Bangkok), Mr. To Kozo, thanked the Thai government and the Ministry of Labour for supporting Japanese companies in operating in Thailand and for listening to all labour issues and opinions. JCC is ready to provide further cooperation and support in the future.
