ID :
195531
Mon, 07/18/2011 - 09:36
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/195531
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Private sector discusses proposed wage hike
BANGKOK, July 18 (TNA) - Thailand's three key private institutions will hold a special meeting in Bangkok on July 20 to discuss a plan to raise daily minimum wages to 300 baht in all areas across the country, as proposed by the majority-elected Pheu Thai Party.
Payungsak Chartsutthiphol, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said on Monday that the Joint Private Sector Committee, comprising the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Thai Bankers' Association and the FTI, will also consider related issues at the meeting on Wednesday to be proposed or further discussed with the new Pheu Thai Party-led government after it takes office, expected in the coming weeks.
Payungsak noted that the local private sector has taken care of workers' living conditions through welfare benefits provided to them, apart from daily wages, the total value of which has exceeded the proposed 300 daily minimum wage.
The FTI chief suggested that the new Pheu Thai Party-led government, instead, conditionally raise daily minimum wages, namely increasing the minimum wages phase by phase and taking varied skills and experiences of their workers into consideration, covering immigrant labourers.
The FTI chief, however, insisted on a five-point resolution of a recent FTI executive board meeting, including opposing to the proposed 300-baht minimum wage on par across the country and urging the new Pheu Thai administration to review the plan to avert macro economic impacts; proposing Thailand's minimum wages be raised in accordance with the market mechanism; allowing the Central Wage Committee, comprising government authorities and representatives of local employers and employees, to consider raising minimum wages based on labour laws without any pressure from political parties; providing financial assistance to local employers to offset their higher costs if minimum wages were raised to 300 baht a day; and FTI being ready to discuss with the new Thai government on appropriate minimum wages for the sake of benefits to all relevant parties. (TNA)
Payungsak Chartsutthiphol, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said on Monday that the Joint Private Sector Committee, comprising the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Thai Bankers' Association and the FTI, will also consider related issues at the meeting on Wednesday to be proposed or further discussed with the new Pheu Thai Party-led government after it takes office, expected in the coming weeks.
Payungsak noted that the local private sector has taken care of workers' living conditions through welfare benefits provided to them, apart from daily wages, the total value of which has exceeded the proposed 300 daily minimum wage.
The FTI chief suggested that the new Pheu Thai Party-led government, instead, conditionally raise daily minimum wages, namely increasing the minimum wages phase by phase and taking varied skills and experiences of their workers into consideration, covering immigrant labourers.
The FTI chief, however, insisted on a five-point resolution of a recent FTI executive board meeting, including opposing to the proposed 300-baht minimum wage on par across the country and urging the new Pheu Thai administration to review the plan to avert macro economic impacts; proposing Thailand's minimum wages be raised in accordance with the market mechanism; allowing the Central Wage Committee, comprising government authorities and representatives of local employers and employees, to consider raising minimum wages based on labour laws without any pressure from political parties; providing financial assistance to local employers to offset their higher costs if minimum wages were raised to 300 baht a day; and FTI being ready to discuss with the new Thai government on appropriate minimum wages for the sake of benefits to all relevant parties. (TNA)
