Labour Ministry asks all sides to accept minimum wage rise

BANGKOK, Jan 23 (TNA) - The Labour Minister calls for all parties to respect the decision of the national tripartite wage committee on the new minimum wage rise, which vary in different provinces. After the national wage committee on Jan 17 approved the minimum wage, ranging between 5-22 baht across the country, the Labour Minister Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew said the new minimum wage increase of five per cent is the highest rise in the past five year. The tripartite committee, comprising competent representatives from the government, employers and employees and the government has measures to help relieve impacts from the decision. The new wage rate will be forwarded to the Cabinet for endorsement before it will be announced in the royal gazette and will be put into effect on April 1, 2018. He asked those who called for the revise of the new minimum wage increase to be the same rate throughout the country that they do not politizing the issue and pay respect to the committee. The average minimum wage of the new rate is 315.97 baht while Phuket, Chon Buri and Rayong receive the highest rate at 330 baht a day. (TNA)