BANGKOK, Dec 9 (TNA) — An economist does not think that the national wage committee’s decision to raise the minimum daily wage by 5-6 baht will raise production costs and operators cannot cite the wage hike as a reason to raise their product prices.
Anusorn Thammajai, director for economic and business research for reform at Rangsit University, said the wage increments of 5-6 baht did not have an impact on the overall production cost.
He did not think the rise would significantly stimulate purchasing power or was sufficient for workers to meet their cost of living. He proposed the government issue more welfare for low-income earners and help small and medium-scaled enterprises that may be affected by the wage rise.
Mr Anusorn said that amid the economic slowdown, employees’ working hours might be reduced. He proposed the government impose a minimum hourly wage system to improve the life of part-time workers and provide operators with flexibility in their business administration. The minimum hourly wage should be higher than the minimum daily wage, he said.
He also warned the government to brace itself for layoffs, saying economic conditions and production technologies would reduce demand for workers, especially those with low skills in the declining export sector. (TNA)
