Thailand raises the minimum wage

The tripartite National Wage Committee has agreed to increase the minimum daily wage throughout the country by an average 11 baht, Somkiat Chayasriwong, labour permanent secretary, said on Thursday.

Labourers in Phuket, where the daily wage is 204 baht, will get another 17 baht a day -- the highest of all -- lifting them to 221 baht.

Those in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces will get a new daily wage entitlement of 215 baht a day.

Workers in seven provinces -- Phayao, Si Sa Ket, Amnat Charoen, Nakhon Sawan, Phetchabun, Uthai Thani and Prachuap Khiri Khan -- will receive the lowest rise at 8 baht a day.

Workers in 24 provinces get 9 baht hike. They are Nan, Tak, Surin, Maha Sarakham, Nakhon Phanom, Chaiyaphum, Lampang, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Chiang Rai, Buri Ram, Roi Et, Yasothon, Sakon Nakhon, Chai Nat, Suphan Buri, Trat, Lamphun, Samut Songkram, Ang Thong, Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Samut Prakan and Bangkok.

Workers in 16 provinces get a 10 baht increase. They are Phitsanulok, Mae Hong Son, Uttaradit, Mukdahan, Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Kamphaeng Phet, Nong Khai, Nakhon Nayok, Loei, Sa Kaeo, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani and Samut Sakhon.

Workers in six provinces get an extra 11 baht. They are Pattani, Narathiwat, Ubon Ratchathani, Sing Buri, Phetchaburi and Rayong.

Workers in 10 provinces get 12 baht rise. They are Phrae, Phichit, Sukhothai, Udon Thani, Yala, Chanthaburi, Kanchanaburi, Lop Buri, Ranong and Chon Buri.

Workers in seven rpvoinces get 13 baht rise. They are Surat Thani, Chumphon, Trang, Ratchaburi, Phangnga, Chachoengsao and Prachin Buri.

Workers in three provinces get 14 baht rise. They are Phatthalung, Satun and Krabi.

Workers in two provinces get 15 baht rise. They are Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla.

Mr Somkiat said the wage rise will benefit about 2 million Thai workers and 2 million foreign labourers. An estimated 14.69 billion baht in extra money will be circulated into the economiy as a result of the wage rise.

The new wage rise will be effective as of Jan 1, 2011.