Cabinet approves new minimum wages effective from January 1

The Cabinet approved new minimum wages today, as recommended by the tri-partite Wage Committee, which will become effective on January 1st.

The committee agreed yesterday to increase wages by between 7 and 55 baht per day, with the highest daily minimum being 400 baht.

Only workers in Phuket, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri and Ko Sui district of Surat Thani will, however, receive the maximum rate. The rate in Mueang district of Chiang Mai and Hat Yai district of Songkhla will be increased to 380 baht, while the rate in Bangkok and its six surrounding provinces will be raised to 372 baht.

For the remaining 67 provinces, there are 17 minimum wage rates, representing average increases of 2%, to be decided by the wage committees in each province based on the cost of living, social conditions and the ability of the employers to cope with the rise, said Boonsong Thapchaiyuth, permanent secretary of labour.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra told the media, at the end of the Cabinet meeting, that her administration is aiming at 3% economic growth next year, adding that the government will try its utmost to achieve this target every quarter.