Minimum wage decision delayed after employer reps’ no-show

The Wage Committee’s scheduled meeting was abruptly cancelled due to the absence of employer representatives, postponing the decision to raise the minimum wage to 400 baht set to take effect on October 1. Government and employee committee members were left waiting at the Ministry of Labour yesterday.

Pairote Chotikasathien, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Chairman of the Wage Committee, presided over the 22nd Wage Committee’s 8th meeting for the year, intended to review the proposed minimum wage increase.

The tripartite committee, composed of five representatives each from the government, employer, and employee sides, was supposed to deliberate on the wage adjustment according to the government’s policy. The new minimum wage of 400 baht (US$12) would apply to certain sectors nationwide.

At the scheduled time of 1.30pm, only the government and employee representatives were present, while all five employer representatives were absent. The absent employer representatives included Supanan Plodhet, Natthakit Khetrakan, Atthayut Liyavanich, Naowarat Songsawatchai, and Chaiyan Jeruenchokthawi.

An earlier meeting on September 9 revealed that 22 provinces, or 28.57% of all provinces, had chosen not to submit or had no interest in proposing an increase in the minimum wage. This meeting was part of the third review of minimum wage adjustments for the year.

Eighteen provinces reached a unanimous decision to support the wage increase. These provinces include Kanchanaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Phatthalung, Krabi, Phang Nga, Narathiwat, Pattani, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Mukdahan, Kalasin, Roi Et, Sisaket, Mae Hong Son, Nan, and Nakhon Sawan, reported KhaoSod.

However, four provinces did not reach a unanimous decision. These provinces are Nonthaburi, Chaiyaphum, Buriram, and Lampang.

In related news, hoteliers in Thailand express concern that raising the daily minimum wage to 400 baht exclusively for large employers could disrupt the job market in the hotel sector. This pay disparity may attract workers to larger hotels, leaving smaller establishments struggling to retain staff.