Sia Jampathong Criticizes Pheu Thai Party for Unfulfilled Minimum Wage Promises

The political landscape sizzled with sharp critiques yesterday as opposition MP Sia Jampathong took the floor during the final day of a joint parliament session. Jampathong pulled no punches, lambasting the ruling Pheu Thai Party for its unfulfilled promises, particularly the much-touted 600-baht minimum wage. He accused the government of neglecting its labour initiatives, which he claims were a cornerstone of their election campaign.

“Labour wasn’t even in the top 10 most urgent policies discussed by this government,” bemoaned Jampathong, a stalwart of the People’s Party (PP). This omission was perplexing, given the Pheu Thai Party’s grand pre-election declarations. Their promises included not only a 600-baht minimum wage but also a minimum salary of 25,000 baht for fresh graduates and enhanced labour rights protections.

Jampathong didn’t mince words: “Were these promises merely bait to win votes?” he questioned aloud, his voice tinged with both frustration and suspicion. “Apart from the 10,000-baht handout scheme, what other promises have been fulfilled for the labour force? Have they forgotten, or are they just pandering to the capitalists?”

The ire kept flowing as Jampathong skewered the sitting labour minister, whom he accused of doing “absolutely nothing” for workers over the past year. He unveiled alarming statistics: 1,519 factories had shuttered their doors, leaving 41,103 workers jobless. “This is disgraceful for any government that pledges to create more jobs,” he declared, raising eyebrows throughout the chamber.

Jampathong also highlighted the dwindling numbers of labour union memberships and zero initiatives to invigorate them. “Our workers are increasingly isolated, with no collective voice to speak for their rights,” he lamented.

Turning his focus to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Jampathong pressed hard on the issue of the promised minimum wage increase. Supposedly adjusted to 400 baht, its application remains inconsistency—only implemented in specific provinces and businesses. “Whenever there’s criticism, they blame the wage committee. But when there’s praise, they claim it as their own achievement,” he acceded with a rueful shake of his head.

Sahassawat Kumkong, another vocal MP from the People’s Party, took the baton, zeroing in on the government’s glaring lack of a coherent plan to develop labour skills for burgeoning industries such as electric vehicles, semiconductors, and the enigmatic “soft power” industries. “Without proper planning and alignment between policies, budgets, and implementation, we’ll see a development freeze, leading to severe unemployment and a dependence on foreign skilled labour,” Kumkong argued, driving his point home with laser precision.

In their fervent speeches, both Jampathong and Kumkong painted a grim picture of the current administration’s handling of labour issues, depicting a future fraught with unfulfilled promises and an increasingly disenfranchised workforce. Their passionate critiques served as a rallying call for immediate, substantive action to honor electoral promises and safeguard the nation’s labour force.

As the parliamentary session ended, one couldn’t help but wonder if these fervent appeals would find their mark or be lost in the cacophony of unfulfilled political promises. Either way, the debate underscored a pivotal issue that demands urgent attention.