Bank Of Thailand Survey Reveals Wage-Hike Fears

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Bank Of Thailand Survey Reveals Wage-Hike Fears

BANGKOK: -- A Bank of Thailand survey of 257 businesspeople has found that most are concerned that next year's nationwide implementation of the Bt300 daily minimum wage will worsen labour shortage.

Once the Bt300 minimum wage comes into effect on January 1, fears are that labour-intensive industries will shift their manufacturing bases to other countries, a source at the bank said yesterday.

Ranong Chamber of Commerce chairwoman Nareumol Khoraphum yesterday said the chamber, the Ranong Industrial Office, Fisheries Association and Tourist Business Association have urged that the Bt300 minimum wage implementation be delayed until January 1, 2015, citing world economic problems, natural disasters and intense competition.

Ranong Industry Council chairman Krisana Eiumwongnathee said a daily wage of Bt220 to Bt230 was more suitable and that increasing it to Bt300 would increase the cost of raw materials, packaging and transport.

The Nation 2012-11-07

[nookiebear]

If the jungle natives dont get 300 baht/day,i can forsee serious unrest

[urleft]

We are having problems getting workers for 200 - 250 a day for short term projects, this was not a problem a year ago. 

Who it seems to impacting the most are the rice farmers.  If I had the baht sitting around I would consider investing in a rice harvester or 3 as rice cutters are not as willing. 

[Alan]

My better half has found it very difficult to hire basic labour staff for the last couple of years in Buriram. They all demanded 300baht plus per day and expected to be fed, which if they worked well we were happy to pay but unfortunatley experience shows most don't want to work hard at all.
Bare in mind these are people with no qualifications or trade and therefore little choice in the real world.
I won't be supprised when the Cambodians, Laos and Myans saturate these positions and do it with real enthusiasum. Work permits from these nations are sky rocketing at the moment and thats the legal workers. I will also not be supprised to see the Thai ex labourers happily sit back and watch it all happen. Maybe its something to do with this superior attitude and saving face that we whitness so often amongst even from the poorest of Thais, or maybe it is down to false expectations through fake governmental promises and completely unrealistic tv soaps that brainwash the lower intelect. There is now a huge reluctance to work dilligently from a large and growing number of Thai people but at the same time a growing credit crisis. The worry is where is this all going. For sure its very likely crime will increase as the wealth gap widens and Thailand could easily become the poorer nation of its nieghbours in years to come espessially if large investment transfers to these willing countries which is already on the increase and gaining momentum each passing day.
How it will affect the expat is yet to be seen.   

[nookiebear]

Prices are already going up due to the implementation of the 300baht in & around BKK