In a captivating development that’s caught the eye of the nation, Srettha made a remarkable stand on Saturday, asserting his intention to cast a resounding “no” when the issue of minimum wage hikes lands upon the Cabinet’s desk for approval. While the air of anticipation hangs heavy over whether this proposal will grace the Cabinet’s next gathering on Tuesday, the premier’s voice is clear – we need to take it back to the drawing board and scrutinize these “appropriate” wage tunes once more.
As the week waned, the tripartite wage-setting saga took an intriguing turn, with the committee reaching a consensus to pitch minimum daily wages up a notch – somewhere in the 330 to 370 baht ballpark, depending on your provincial playground, starting the new year. This modest bump from the current 328 to 354 baht scale isn’t just pocket change; it’s a palpable pulse in the livelihood of many.
The committee, a veritable melting pot of business moguls, labour advocates, and government gurus, seems to have stirred quite the conversation.
But for Srettha, donning both the premier and finance minister caps, these increases are but frugal flickers against the burgeoning bonfire that is the cost of living. He levels a piercing gaze at the proposed hikes, decreeing them “very small” and voicing his “big concern” as his administration juggles various schemes to lighten the fiscal load of the populace.
“Millions hinge on the day’s haul, and the humble rise of 2 to 7 baht in certain regions simply doesn’t cut it,” proclaimed Srettha. He beckoned businesses to elevate their game – to pay a premium above the proposed wages, a call to arms fueled by the glittering benefits they reaped from government largesse such as electricity price slashes.
“It’s a time of reckoning – a moment to elevate the living standards of our workers. We must refuse to let our Thai labourers languish as the world’s second or third-class,” Srettha passionately implored.
The premier conveyed his distinct distaste for the meager 2-baht increment reserved for the workers in the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat, berating the decision that nudged their wages from 328 to a mere 330 baht.
“A 2-baht leap? Why, it scarcely affords an egg! This paltry sum leaves me tremendously displeased,” he exclaimed.
Following the festive season, promises of parley with the committee emerge, rooted in one of the government’s cornerstone policies – to spur the minimum daily wages skyward.
Aiming high, the premier envisions a golden 400 baht standard for the nation’s heavy-hitting provinces, batting away any concerns that higher wages would send manufacturers packing. “That’s just a myth,” Srettha declared, dispelling fears with a flourish. “No one’s going to uproot over a wage hike when Thailand offers an alluring cocktail of tax breaks, stellar healthcare, leading education, and sophisticated infrastructure,” he confidently concluded.
Be First to Comment