Labour minister says daily minimum wage to rise nationwide

BANGKOK, April 22 (TNA) - Thai Labour Minister Phadermchai Sasomsab on Sunday was hard-pressed for a nationwide-rise in daily minimum wages to 300 baht, saying it cannot be delayed until 2015. Speaking at the 32nd anniversary celebration of the Labour Court, Phadermchai said a delay in the pay rise requested by business operators was not possible, saying instead both employers and employees need to cooperate together, in order to be prepared for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. Phadermchai said the Labour Ministry was willing to assist both employers and employees to boost their competitiveness for the AEC, adding that preparations also had to be made to cater to possible brain drain to countries which offer better income. Daily minimum wages in seven provinces, including Bangkok, rose to 300 baht since April 1, while wages in the rest of 70 provinces in the country would rise to 300 baht daily from January 1, 2013. (TNA)