Employers in move to halt wage increase

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Employers in move to halt wage increase

100 companies set to fight government plan

Published: 3/02/2012 at 03:02 AM
Newspaper section: News

Seven employers' confederations will team up with the Federation of Thai Industries to file a petition with the Administrative Court to stop the government implementing its 300 baht daily minimum wage policy.

Representatives from the seven employers' associations yesterday met to discuss their plan.

Prasit Jong-assayakul, president of the Employers' Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry (EconThai), said the confederations would meet the FTI on Monday to set guidelines to formulate the petition.

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: Writer: Penchan Charoensuthipan; Position: Reporter

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johninbkk
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Discussion 30 : 04/02/2012 at 02:09 PM30
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englishbob D29 - "a government that can increase your labour costs by 40% with a single penstroke simply to appease the road-blockers"
Unfortunately, the Dem Party promised 275 baht minimum wage and fixed wages per profession, and their close allies BJT promised 500 baht. All parties promised large min wage increases. It was a lose-lose-lose situation at the voting booth for capitalists. Also, by law the government cannot increase the minimum wage by a single penstroke. It is the job of the tripartite Central Wage Committee of which the government has limited influence over.
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englishbob
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Discussion 29 : 03/02/2012 at 06:57 PM29
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The idea that companies should be forced to close if they can't afford the new minimum wage is self-defeating... Those workers are then out of work.
And it's not a case of Thailand doesn't need those companies, it's more a case of will future companies want to invest in a country riven with political strife, beset by floods and run by a government that can increase your labour costs by 40% with a single penstroke simply to appease the road-blockers.
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 28 : 03/02/2012 at 05:42 PM28
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One more question is who will control that the minimum wages are actually paid? The police? Maybe the system will work like this: Sign here that you received 300B per day and be happy when you get 200B. Obviously you can also complain and loose your job and maybe more… TiT
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 27 : 03/02/2012 at 05:38 PM27
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If the minimum wage earners get 40% more should people who now earn 300B per day also receive 40% more? And if their salaries are increased, obviously with more income wants more money. In general I have no problem with people earning 300B or more a day, but the minimum wage is just one small wheel in the whole system. You can’t just change that single wheel alone. It all has to match together.
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bkposter
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Discussion 26 : 03/02/2012 at 05:37 PM26
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In my opinion, the minimum wage needs to be raised, but not all in one year, it should be three consecrative raises of 12% each, and additionally the way of calculating should be changed to a days worked and not per month...now the daily rate must be multiplied x 30 to determine the monthly rate, and it should be by the number of days worked x the daily rate.
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Eric
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Discussion 25 : 03/02/2012 at 05:02 PM25
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Over the last 20 odd years, labour has been unfairly exploited. Minimum wage has failed to assign equal share of economic prosperity for workers. Past governments wre scared of antagonizing the rich and failed in their efforts to raise the living standard of the workers. The 40% increase is just the right and bold decision by PT to correct the wrong. If past governments were bold to adjust minimum wage incrementally, there is no need for this hefty increase.
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jwatch
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Discussion 24 : 03/02/2012 at 04:58 PM24
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Don't forget that not every business owner is rich and successful and drives a luxury car. Many businesses are already struggling from the floods and ever increasing rents (ask any shop owner at Platinum) and are barely hanging on. This will certainly be a big impact on the small merchants..not so much the bigger businesses IMHO.
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johninbkk
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Discussion 23 : 03/02/2012 at 04:40 PM23
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If a company can't afford the higher wages, it will simply lay off parts of their labor force and work the remaining people even harder. The additional cost of making these goods will result in higher prices in the market. Higher prices of goods and many people laid off isn't going to help the poor. There are many pro-capitalist ways to increase *real* wages of the poor, and this is not one of them.
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med142
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Discussion 22 : 03/02/2012 at 02:15 PM22
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May i say this 300baht a day is not that much in real terms. All the people here i will ask this of you. Can you live on 300 baht a day and support a family? What really do the people want who are against this. Bigger profit margins?
If am being honest it should be more like 500baht a day as minimum wage. Why is it also a few say that the some of the workers that they have are lazy, have a degree but know nothing.
We have gone through this before here, it will still be the same answers and points that are raised.
Never forget you get what you pay for, and you then deserve what you get.
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nui
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Discussion 21 : 03/02/2012 at 02:02 PM21
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Why no one understands a simple budget planning ? 40 percent increase in labour costs within a couple of months ? This is supposed to be reasonable ? No, it is a business killer, especially for labour intensive business and SME’s. There should be an increase in wages, but not like this.
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