'No reason to delay Bt300 wage hike'
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The launch of the flat Bt300 minimum daily wage "should not" be postponed from January 1 due to the flooding, as a postflood business and economic recovery is anticipated, Labour Ministry permanent secretary Somkiat Chayasriwong said yesterday.
“A survey of the labour and business sectors is underway. Those businesses that are still affected and cannot recover quickly can request assistance from the government,” he said, without elaborating on the “assistance”.
Somkiat said it would take five months to evaluate the postflood labour supply situation.
While he did not explicitly say that the Bt300 minimum wage would take effect without conditions on January 1, he said there had not been any change to the existing agreement mandating that the pay rise take effect on that date.
The ministry has taken steps to help floodaffected workers, including a plan to fill 130,000 job vacancies and arranging 10day skillstraining sessions paying a Bt120 daily allowance. It was expected to see 15,000 applicants but could accommodate another 20,000.
Shortterm, 20day contracts paying Bt150 a day to around 23,000 workers had also been arranged, he added.
The House committee on social welfare yesterday held a joint meeting with Labour Minister Phadermchai Sasomsap to discuss measures to help floodaffected workers and minimise the chance of massive layoffs. Phadermchai said a fund will be set up soon to help employers pay Bt2,000 to workers for three months.
Fewer workers had been laid off than expected – 4,500 – from 15 companies in three provinces including hardhit Ayutthaya, he said.
