Thailand's labour networks demand new wage hike

BANGKOK, June 25 (TNA) - Local labour networks have demanded that the Thai government increase the daily minimum wage, from 300 baht to 360 baht equally nationwide, citing rising costs of living. More than 200 workers, representing the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee and the State Enterprises Workers’ Relations Confederation, gathered at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok on Thursday, demanding that the government further raise the daily minimum wage to 360 baht equally nationwide, from 300 baht currently. The blue-collar workers expressed their opposition to the Ministry of Labour's plan to float the current daily minimum wage at 300 baht. Thai Labour Solidarity Committee Chairperson Wilaiwan Tia pointed out that the Labour Ministry's plan is not fair because costs of living have kept rising and workers in provincial areas who do not have strong bargaining power may receive unfair wages. Wilaiwan said while civil servants and state enterprise employees have already received their increased salaries, the blue-collar labourers have received nothing despite rising costs of living over the past few years. The 300-baht daily minimum wage has been enforced nationwide for almost three years by the previous Thai government of ex-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra. (TNA)