The Labour Ministry has officially promised that by the end of the year, a nationwide minimum wage of 400-baht will be implemented, confirmed by Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. However, the tripartite wage committee is currently in a holding pattern, waiting for the official appointment of two crucial members. Both the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and the Director-General of the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DLPW) retired in late September.
Just yesterday, the ministry took a step forward by appointing Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyuth as the new permanent secretary. The name of the new director-general of the DLPW will be submitted to the cabinet for approval next week, Mr. Phiphat stated. In addition, there’s a question mark hanging over the representative from the Bank of Thailand (BoT). This individual retired last year but is eligible to stay on the wage committee until March next year. The new permanent secretary will soon clarify this issue with the BoT.
“I confirm that we are fully committed to increasing the minimum wage to 400 baht, and it will be done by the end of the year. Once the committee is ready, we can push ahead,” affirmed Mr. Phiphat.
Meanwhile, the Labour Ministry also announced plans yesterday to amend some regulations over the next two months to ensure monthly employees gain overtime (OT) rights. The minister recently engaged in discussions with Panat Thailuan, president of the National Congress of Thai Labour (NCTL), along with representatives from seven labour councils. They collectively submitted a petition advocating for changes to the Labour Ministry’s Ministerial Regulations No.7 and No.13, which are based on the Labour Protection Act BE 2541 (1998).
At present, the regulations in question exclude monthly salaried employees from receiving overtime pay on the same terms as daily wage workers. In response, Mr. Phiphat designated a tripartite panel composed of seven representatives from each group of employers, employees, and the government to thoroughly study any potential impacts of these regulation changes. The panel will consider allowing monthly workers to receive overtime pay at 1.5 times their hourly rate on regular workdays and triple their rate for work done on days off.
Furthermore, Mr. Phiphat has instructed the DLPW to organize meetings on this subject and report their findings on the proposed law amendments within two months. The clock is ticking, but the Labour Ministry seems resolute in enhancing wage structures and extending fair compensation to monthly salaried employees. The nation watches closely as these developments unfold, hoping for a fairer, more equitable working environment for all.
Finally! This wage hike is long overdue. Many workers have been struggling to make ends meet for years.
I disagree. This could lead to increased inflation and harm small businesses.
True, but isn’t it the government’s job to find a balance? Workers deserve a living wage.
Exactly! Worker exploitation needs to stop. A fair wage is the least they can get.
What about the sectors that can’t afford this hike? Are we going to see mass layoffs?
Businesses need to adapt. Maybe cut on executive bonuses instead of firing workers?
Easy to say when it’s not your business. Some won’t survive this change.
Market dynamics will adjust. Survival of the fittest means those who can adapt will thrive.
Sectors like tourism might take a hit, but the long-term benefit of a healthier workforce might outweigh the immediate downsides.
This is a step towards reducing income inequality in Thailand. The government is finally addressing a critical issue.
Is reducing inequality worth risking economic stability, though?
In the long run, yes. Economic equity fosters sustainable growth. Short-term instability is a necessary evil.
Well said! Also, workers with more money to spend will boost the economy.
Doesn’t anyone care about the burden this places on small businesses? They already struggle with high costs!
More people get decent wages, but also more regulations. Hard to say if it’s worth it.
As a small business owner, I’m worried. 400 baht doesn’t sound a lot, but it adds up.
We’re all worried, Mae. But if workers are paid well, they’re more motivated and productive.
I hope you’re right. It’s tough trying to balance everything.
Glad to hear monthly employees might get overtime pay! It’s only fair.
Fair? Maybe. Feasible? Not so sure. Companies have budgets, and this could blow them.
Budgets can be adjusted. Employers need to value their workforce.
Labor reforms are necessary but need careful planning and execution to avoid unintended consequences.
So they have two months to figure this out? That seems like a tight deadline. Hope they manage.
Good move! Better pay and rights for workers mean healthier families and communities.
How about we cut some of the excessive bureaucracy first? That would save money and time.
Overtime pay sounds great, but who’s going to foot the bill? More burdens on employers.
Hope these changes don’t mean more unpaid leave and benefit cuts for us.
The government needs to offer more support to employers during this transition.
But what kind of support? Tax breaks? Subsidies? Or more loans that need repaying?
Subsidies would be a good start. Helps businesses without adding debt.
Proud of the labor ministry for taking these steps! Workers have endured enough.
This feels like a political move ahead of elections. Will they genuinely follow through post-elections?