Body to discuss provincial wages

He heads the centre to help carry out the government’s policy to raise the minimum wage to Bt300 across the country.
Currently, the minimum wage ranges from Bt159 in Phayao to Bt221 in Phuket.
Labour Minister Phadermchai Sasomsap said the subcommittees in most provinces had agreed with raising the minimum wage by 40 per cent on January 1.
The subcommittees for 23 provinces have asked for a hike of only 30-35 per cent.
The subcommittees for Buri Ram and Mukdahan have resolved that the minimum wage should be raised by more than 80 per cent to Bt300 from just Bt166 in Buri Ram and Bt155 in Mukdahan now.
“The wage subcommittees for Chaiyaphum, Prachin Buri, Nong Bua Lamphu and Phatthalung have also pushed for a hike of over 40 per cent,” he said.
The subcommittee for Samut Songkhram has asked for an increase of 40 per cent on January 1 and an increment to Bt300 within three years.
“In Bueng Kan, there’s no subcommittee in action yet,” he said.
The subcommittees for Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Rayong and Surat Thani had not yet reached a conclusion, Phadermchai said.
Somkiat said his centre had listened to the opinions of all parties.
“We’re implementing the government’s policy to raise the daily minimum wage to Bt300 with caution,” he said.