Dems attack govt for basic wage 'deceit'

"The people have the right to check on Pheu Thai's campaign pledge on the minimum wage, which did not happen - this is deceitful," Democrat spokesman Chavanont Intarakolmayasut said.

Chavanont said the government has failed to raise the minimum wage as promised. The plan to adjust the workers' earnings to Bt300 per day in seven provinces starting next year was not the same as guaranteeing and enforcing the minimum wage nationwide, he said.

By this lopsided income adjustment, the government would end up compounding the wage disparity among workers, he said.

Should the government opt to increase the wage nationwide, workers would benefit equally. But the income hike of 40 per cent in seven provinces would accelerate the disparity, he added.

He went on to attack the government's failure to tackle the rising cost of living.

Despite the lowering of petrol and diesel prices, there was no corresponding cut in transport charges, he said. Pheu Thai had attacked the Democrats over the price of hen eggs, which had continued to rise regardless of the change in government, he said.

The government had acted in haste to cut the fuel price without considering the full ramifications on energy conservation, alternative fuel, cost of living and transport charges, he said, arguing that the hasty decision favoured oil suppliers, while the state and people did not benefit.

Suan Dusit Poll has released an opinion survey showing that 34 per cent of 2,187 respondents ranked the government's inability to ensure a wage hike nationwide as its most critical issue.

Other issues faced by the government included tackling the cost of living and the dispensing of favours in the bureaucratic reshuffle.

Asked to list five issues of concern, respondents singled out floods as causing the most anxiety, followed by social divisions, the cost of living, illicit drugs and vice, and southern violence.