Minimum wage to be hiked by around 2.4% from January 1

[reader]

From The Nation

Thailand’s daily minimum wage is set to increase nationwide from January 1, 2024, in the range of 330 to 370 baht per day according to the province, the Labour Ministry said.

The tripartite committee on minimum wage, comprising representatives of employers, employees and the government sector, met on Friday to finalise the details of minimum wage adjustment across all 77 provinces.

The new rates will be submitted to the Cabinet when it meets next Tuesday (December 12), and will take effect from January 1, Labour Ministry permanent secretary Pairoj Chotikasathien, who chaired the meeting on Friday, said.

The new daily minimum wage by province, from highest to lowest, are as follows:

370 baht: Phuket

363 baht: Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon

361 baht: Chonburi and Rayong

352 baht: Nakhon Ratchasima

351 baht: Samut Songkhram

350 baht: Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Chachoengsao, Prachinburi, Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai

349 baht: Lopburi

348 baht: Suphanburi, Nakhon Nayok and Nong Khai

347 baht: Krabi and Trat

345 baht: Kanchanaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Surat Thani, Songkhla, Phang Nga, Chanthaburi, Sa Kaeo, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Sakon Nakhon, Buri Ram, Ubon Ratchathani, Chiang Rai, Tak and Phitsanulok

344 baht: Phetchaburi, Chumphon and Surin

343 baht: Yasothon, Lamphun and Nakhon Sawan

342 baht: Nakhon Si Thammarat, Bueang Kan, Kalasin, Roi Et and Phetchabun

341 baht: Chai Nat, Singburi, Phatthalung, Chaiyaphum and Ang Thong

340 baht: Ranong, Satun, Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Maha Sarakham, Si Sa Ket, Amnat Charoen, Mae Hong Son, Lampang, Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Uthai Thani and Ratchaburi

338 baht: Trang, Nan, Phayao and Phrae

330 baht: Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala

Currently, the lowest minimum wage in Thailand is 328 baht and the highest is 354 baht, varying from province to province. The increase in the daily minimum wage will range from 2 to 16 baht, or an average of 2.4%.

The Pheu Thai-led government had previously promised to raise the minimum wage to 400 baht per day by January 1 as a New Year's gift for workers nationwide. However, in October, the Labour Ministry said this was unlikely to happen after considering several factors, including the inflation rate.

[Keithambrose]

This just shows the low level of income in Thailand . No surprise. For Bangkok, the new rate is around £8.50 a day! This puts into perspective the discussions on here about bar prices etc. in my view we are still getting a bargain, and we shouldn't begrudge the money we pay for drinks, and boys!

[reader]

From Thai PBS World

Wage committee rejects PM’s call to readjust minimum wages

The tri-partite wage committee has rejected Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s request for them to reconsider their recent decision to increase the minimum wage by only Bt2-16 a day and the employers’ representative on the committee asked the government not to interfere, warning that such interference may impact the business sector. 

At the meeting on Wednesday, the wage committee agreed to reconfirm their December 8^th decision to raise the minimum wage by Bt2-16 and announced that they will not review the decision.

Atthayut Leeyavanich, an employers’ representative on the committee, said that the decision is fair adding, however, that the committee will use a new formula in calculating minimum wages next year.

Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, however, rejected Atthayut’s accusation of government interference, saying that the government simply made an observation that the wage rates proposed by the committee may not be reasonable. He said that the committee’s decision will be submitted to the cabinet for approval next week, so it will become effective as of January 1^st, if approved.

Labour Permanent Secretary Pairoj Chotikasathien, meanwhile, said that minimum wage will be reviewed again next year.

The new minimum wages are:

• Bt370 in Phuket.
• Bt363 in Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon.
• Bt361 in Chon Buri and Rayong.
• Bt352 in Nakhon Ratchasima.
• Bt351 in Samut Songkhram.
• Bt350 in Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Chachoengsao, Prachin Buri, Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai.
• Bt349 in Lop Buri.
• Bt348 in Suphan Buri, Nakhon Nayok and Nong Khai.
• Bt347 in Krabi and Trat.
• Bt345 in Kanchanaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Surat Thani, Songkhla, Phang-nga, Chanthaburi, Sa Kaeo, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Sakhon Nakhon, Buri Ram, Ubon Ratchathani, Chiang Rai, Tak and Phitsanuloke.
• Bt344 in Phetchaburi, Chumphon and Surin.
• Bt343 in Yasothon, Lamphun and Nakhon Sawan.
• Bt342 in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Bueng Kan, Kalasin, Roi-et and Phetchabun.
• Bt341 in Chainat, Sing Buri, Phatthalung, Chaiyaphum and Ang Thong.
• Bt340 in Ranong, Satun, Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Maha Sarakham, Si Sa Ket, Amnat Charoen, Mae Hong Son, Lampang, Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Uthai Thani and Ratchaburi.
• Bt338 in Trang, Nan, Phayao and Phrae.
• Bt330 in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala.

[vinapu]

On 12/10/2023 at 6:40 AM, Keithambrose said:

This just shows the low level of income in Thailand . No surprise. For Bangkok, the new rate is around £8.50 a day! This puts into perspective the discussions on here about bar prices etc. in my view we are still getting a bargain, and we shouldn't begrudge the money we pay for drinks, and boys!

and we shouldn't forget about ladies who are cleaning our hotel rooms, few baht under the pillow in the morning  won't ruin anybody's budget 

[Keithambrose]

5 hours ago, vinapu said:

and we shouldn't forget about ladies who are cleaning our hotel rooms, few baht under the pillow in the morning  won't ruin anybody's budget 

Agreed, I always do that. Sometimes give money at beginning, which helps!

[vinapu]

8 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

Agreed, I always do that. Sometimes give money at beginning, which helps!

Which brings need for an advice which I received once from cleaning lady in Tanzania. Give tip daily or , as you do , in the beginning , never at end unless you give it directly to a cleaner. It may happen that somebody else ( reception, maintenance ) will check the room after we departed and  snatch the tip from under the pillow.

Or one may be departing on day off of the usual cleaner and we will be tipping somebody who did not do much for us leaving empty handed one who did.

[Keithambrose]

1 hour ago, vinapu said:

Which brings need for an advice which I received once from cleaning lady in Tanzania. Give tip daily or , as you do , in the beginning , never at end unless you give it directly to a cleaner. It may happen that somebody else ( reception, maintenance ) will check the room after we departed and  snatch the tip from under the pillow.

Or one may be departing on day off of the usual cleaner and we will be tipping somebody who did not do much for us leaving empty handed one who did.

I received the same advice!

[10tazione]

You put the money under the pillow?

Not just on the bed or at the desk?

[vinapu]

me? yes , under the pillow in the way that it's bit visible. Money in plain view may be interpreted as just forgotten to be picked up by guest, specially if room is bit messy and maid may leave it there.

Speaking from personal experience in Baan Silom which is very  comfortable but by no means upscale fancy international hotel. Fact that I stay there every trip  and my face is  familiar to the staff may explain it. 

[Keithambrose]

I often give it physically to the cleaner, if we coincide, so to speak. Establishes a slight bond.