42 companies challenge Govt's wage policy
A number of 42 companies have asked for the Administrative Court's injunction on the government's minimum wage hike policy, saying that the resolution to raise wage in seven provinces to Bt300 is illegitimate.
The charge was filed against the Central Wage Committee of which resolution to raise the wage by 40 per cent in 7 provinces - Bangkok, Phuket, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Nonthaburi - would take effect on April 1.
Labour Ministry permanent secretary Dr Somkiat Chayasriwong, in his capacity as chairman of the Central Wage Committee, on Thursday testified to the court that the resolution won endorsement from employers and employees. He also defended that minimum wage in the past 10 years has risen at a lower pace than average inflation.
Among the 42 companies are Murata Electronics (Thailand) Ltd, Toshiba Industrial Ltd and Kulthorn Kirby Plc.
According to its website, with a manufacturing plant in Lamphun, Murata - a manufacturer of high quality electronic components used in both industrial and consumer electronic equipment - employs 3,150 workers.
