Thailand hikes minimum wage for first time in over 2 years

Thailand raised its daily minimum wage for the first time in more than two years on Friday, the labour ministry said, as it seeks to help workers cope with rising living costs and the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A committee made up of government representatives, companies and labour groups agreed to raise wages by an average of 5.02per cent from Oct. 1, Boonchob Suthamanaswong, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said in a statement. The minimum wage was last hiked in January 2020, by 1.6per cent-1.8per cent.

The exact rates differ slightly between regions with the three most industrialised provinces - Chonburi, Rayong and Phuket - and the capital Bangkok, at the top end of a 328 baht and 354 baht ($9.11-$9.84) range.