National —
On September 10th, 2024, Thai national media reported that Thai private sector operators in the Upper Northeastern region expressed concerns about the nationwide minimum wage increase to 400 baht per day, set to take effect on October 1st.
Nattaphon Luangwongpaisan, the Chairman of the Upper Northeastern Chamber of Commerce (Udon Thani, Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, and Bueng Kan), stated that while the private sector supports the wage increase, it should be implemented gradually based on the economic conditions of each province.
Furthermore, Nattaphon pointed out that provinces like Bangkok and Phuket already have wages exceeding 400 baht, while smaller, remote provinces lack infrastructure and may struggle to attract businesses under the same wage rate.
Nattaphon also emphasized that a uniform wage increase across the country could lead to rising costs for businesses, which may result in price hikes for goods and services.
He reportedly urged the Thai government to consider enhancing worker productivity and skills rather than solely focusing on wage increases, warning that the current plan could lead to unemployment and economic challenges, particularly for unskilled labor and SMEs.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
