Tripartite committee set to discuss new daily minimum wage rates
The tripartite committee, which consists of representatives from the ministry, employers, and employees, is set to deliberate on the new daily minimum wage rates across various provinces.
The meeting, confirmed by Pairoj Chotikasathien, the permanent secretary for labour, is scheduled for today, December 8.
According to the data finalized by a sub-committee under the main wage committee on November 27, the anticipated wage increase continues to fluctuate across provinces. The finalized rates by the main wage committee, which may be higher or lower than those proposed by the sub-committee, are due for confirmation today. The final rates, however, are still subject to the tripartite committee’s ultimate review.
As it stands, two provinces have yet to submit their proposed new daily wage. This could indicate that these provinces are either not interested in increasing their minimum daily wage or their new proposed rate is still in transit. The specific names of these two provinces were not disclosed.
The finalised wage rates across all provinces will be made public only after the completion of the review process. The current round of minimum wage adjustment has garnered an unusual amount of public attention after the ruling Pheu Thai Party announced a policy to standardise the minimum wage to 400 baht per day, a promise made during the last general election. However, this rate is unlikely to be honoured in this new wage adjustment, based on previous negotiations between the main wage committee and the Ministry of Labour, reported Bangkok Post.
The tripartite wage committee approved new wage rates last year, which marked a 5.02% average increase, effective from October 1 last year. The highest rate was 354 baht per day, and the lowest was 328 baht.
Six provinces, namely Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, and Samut Sakhon, saw the highest increase of 22 baht. In contrast, the northern province of Nan and the northeastern province of Udon Thani experienced the lowest rise of 8 baht.
