Thai Government:Increased minimum wage improves workers’ livelihood

BANGKOK, January 5 (TNA) - The Thai government says that its daily minimum wage hike to 300 baht in all areas across the country, effective from January 1, 2013, will improve workers’ livelihood, as it will not only boost their purchasing power, but it will also help them to stay with their families without having to migrate to work out of their hometowns. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong made the comments during the weekly TV and radio programme of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday, pointing out that people's rising purchasing power will also propel Thailand's economic growth and relieve the national economy's reliance on exports. Besides, Kittirat acknowledged, the Thai government has a policy to help employees of private firms, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the Finance and Labour Ministries are working together to assist independent workers to be members of the government-sponsored Social Security Fund. Labour Minister Phadermchai Sasomsab said during the same programme that provincial labour offices are reporting to his ministry on what kind of businesses being affected from the wage increase, and that his ministry will provide skill training to workers who are laid off and will help them to get new jobs. Meanwhile, Arkom Termpitayapaisit, Secretary General of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), opined that the new wage hike should offer fairness to workers nationwide and help boost their efficiency, which should help save production costs subsequently. The NESDB chief suggested, however, that the Thai government provided the affected business operators with financial support to enable them to survive.(TNA)