FTI against uniform daily minimum wage rate

BANGKOK, Jan 6 (TNA) -- The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has voiced its opposition against the uniform daily minimum wage rate to be applicable throughout the country as it could affect the small business operators. Chen Namchaisiri, chairman of FTI, said he wants the national tripartite committee, consisting of representatives of workers, employers and the government to increase the daily minimum wage by adhering to rules conducted in the past years and several factors must be taken into consideration such as business locations, difference of inflations in each province and, most importantly, ability of paying the wage by employers in each locality. Mr Chen said the FTI opposes the idea to uniform minimum wage rate nationwide. The labour groups earlier demanded a 360-baht uniform daily minimum wage rate to be applicable throughout the country. The national tripartite committee has earlier decided the minimum daily wage should increase by up to 5% or 15 baht. Mr Chen said if the wage is increased at 15 baht daily, it would affect small business operators. (TNA)