Thailand's private sector voices against new minimum wage hike

BANGKOK, July 15 (TNA) - Thailand's private sector has opposed a plan by the new administration to raise the country's daily minimum wage to a single level simultaneously. Supant Mongkolsuthree, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), voiced the opposition on behalf of the country's private sector on Monday, warning that such the new wage hike, if implemented, would have adverse effects on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular. "Amid an ongoing national economic slowdown, it's not the right time and inappropriate for a new daily minimum wage hike simultaneously to the single 400 baht-level in all areas nationwide, as campaigned by political parties prior to last March's general election and planned by the new Thai coalition government", Supant told journalists. Supant cautioned that such the planned new daily minimum wage hike, if given the green light, would not only greatly affect business operators, especially those running SMEs, but also result in a considerable loss to the Thai economy due to a total huge amount of financial remittance by migrant workers in the country to their home countries. The FTI chief suggested that any planned minimum wage hike be discussed and resolved by the tripartite committee, comprising of representatives of employers, employees and the Thai government. Besides, training programs or workshops on the skill development should be launched for workers in the Thai business sector prior to a final decision on the new daily minimum wage hike. (TNA)