BANGKOK, 9 June 2011 – The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has cautioned political parties about impact of their campaign strategy to increase minimum wage when it is implemented.
According to FTI Chairperson Payungsak Chartsutipol, the FTI will present the result of its survey conducted from 2 to 6 June 2011 among entrepreneurs on labour problems and minimum wage hike, to a meeting with political parties it will arrange on 20 June 2011.
The survey showed only 2.2% of the respondents believed that their businesses would not be affected by the policy. 5.6-11.0% said impact would be minimal while 9.0-37.1% said theirs would be in the middle range. 42.7-68.5% of them said the impact would be vast while and 6.7-16.9% said it would be so severe that it could lead to closure of their business.
The average minimum wage proposed by the respondents stands at 226.67 baht a day. The figures for the central region, the North, the East, the South and the Northeast are 231.8, 223.2, 203.33, 209.37 and 190 baht respectively.
In addition, 39.1% of the respondents did not want any political parties to include minimum wage hike in their campaign strategies. 18.8% of them wanted the authorities to curb inflation and living costs while 9.4% asked the authorities to uplift labour quality.
Mr Payungsak explained that minimum wage in the past was increased gradually and adjustment was done through the tripartite panel; however, lately the adjustment has been made at a jumping step forcing the capital cost and retail prices to rise which results in minimum wage adjustment again to match the rising cost of living.
