Abhisit calls on govt to tackle adverse effects of 300-baht wage policy, claiming policy was first conceived by Democrats

BANGKOK, 18 February 2013  Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has urged the government to come up with measures to tackle the adverse effect of the 300-baht minimum wage policy, while also claiming that the Democrat party was the first to come up with a policy to raise workers’ income, but that the policy was adopted by the rival Puea Thai party. At a public forum held at the Democrat party headquarters, the Opposition leader said that the government’s 300-baht minimum wage policy is not the “final answer” for Thai workers. He said the policy has a number of undesirable consequences, including lay-offs and illegal employments. He said that the government, in implementing the policy, was envisaging only the policy’s immediate consequences, without considering its longer-term effects. He added that his party had always pushed for policies that would help workers develop skills, with the aim of raising their income, but that the policy was hijacked by his rival Puea Thai party. Moreover, Mr Abhisit said that, contrary to the simplicity of its name, Puea Thai’s minimum wage policy has many conditions attached to it. Meanwhile, Vice President of Uni Thailand, a labour advocate group, echoes Mr Abhisit’s concern that the policy has resulted in unemployment because of companies closing down. But she also raised another concern – that is, that many workers are not currently receiving 300 baht per day as prescribed.