BANGKOK, 29 April 2011 – Laborers are demanding higher minimum wages to match the skyrocketing cost of living at present, according to a recent survey by the Bangkok University Research Institute (Bangkok Poll).
The survey was conducted with 1,073 laborers in Bangkok and vicinities from 22 to 24 April 2011, upon the upcoming National Labor Day, 1 May.
91.1% of the respondents admitted that the minimum wage was inadequate and they viewed that the adequate rate should stand at 290 baht per day. Phuket province has the highest daily minimum wage of 221 baht while Phayao has the lowest of 159 baht. Bangkok’s rate is at 215 baht a day.
Regarding the policy of the ruling Democrat Party to increase the minimum wage by 25% in two years, 57.9% of the respondents indicated that it would still be inadequate while 63.7% of them did not think that the policy could be implemented.
As for the policy of the opposition Pheu Thai Party to increase the minimum wage to 300 baht per day, 88.2% of the respondents said the increase would be adequate for their living, and 54.0% of them believed that the policy could be materialized.
Asked about their most favored demand on the Labor Day, 58.4% of the respondents wanted their employers to increase wages and bonuses to meet the high living costs. Asked what were the top priority issues that they wanted the government to take care of, 45.1% of the respondents mentioned wages. 25.4% wanted welfare promotion, and 16.4% wanted the government to take care of their quality of life.
