Wage freeze order upsets worker group

A labour network says it is against a wage panel decision to put on hold a proposed increase in the daily minimum wage for the first half of next year.

The National Wage Committee earlier voted to delay increasing the minimum wage from January to June 2016 as a result of the slow economy and disinflation.

Wage increases will depend on the economic situation of each province and they will not be regulated uniformly, said the committee.

Wilaiwan Sae Tia, president of the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee, yesterday said the group disagreed with the wage committee’s decision as consumer product prices are rising, leading to higher living expenses.

Ms Wilaiwan also urged the wage committee to follow a 2011 committee resolution to increase the daily minimum wage in January next year.

The resolution said the 300-baht minimum wage from 2012 to 2015 would rise nationwide after 2015.

Workers in many provinces lack bargaining power because they do not have labour unions, said Ms Wilaiwan.

Jantima Jaewsakul, an Ayutthaya factory worker, said she agreed with the freeze, because a pay rise could hurt employers’ ability to pay salaries, and hike product costs due to higher labour costs.

Meanwhile, ML Puntrik Smiti, permanent secretary for labour and chairman of the wage committee, said surveys between April and May this year found the 300-baht minimum wage was enough for most workers.

Basic expenditure was estimated at 269 baht per day, and necessities plus entertainment came to 286 baht a day, he said.

“Almost no provincial wage sub-panels proposed an increase in the minimum wage,” ML Puntrik said.

He added the minimum wage need not be uniform nationwide, but based on local economic conditions.

Atthayuth Leeyawanit, who represents employers on the National Wage Committee, said the economic slowdown coupled with an uncertain future persuaded both employers and workers to agree to postpone wage hikes to ensure both sides could survive.