In an effort to assist workers in coping with rising living costs and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Thailand boosted the country’s daily minimum pay on Friday. This marked the first time in more than two years that the minimum wage has been increased.
Boonchob Suthamanaswong, the permanent secretary of the ministry, said in a statement that a committee comprised of government representatives, company representatives, and representatives from labor organizations reached an agreement to increase wages by an average of 5.02% beginning October 1.
The most recent increase to the minimum wage took place in January 2020 and ranged from 1.6% to 1.8%.
The actual prices range from 328 to 354 baht ($9.11–$9.84), with Chonburi, Rayong, and Phuket, three of the most industrialized provinces, and Bangkok, the nation’s capital, falling towards the higher end of this range.
After the increase, the monthly minimum salary in Thailand will be between 9,840 and 10,620 baht, which converts to between $273.33 and $295.00 USD. This places Thailand’s minimum wage among the highest of its neighbors in Southeast Asia that use such measures.
In instance, the country of Vietnam, which serves as a manufacturing hub for the region, has a minimum monthly wage that ranges from 3.25 million dong to 4.68 million dong ($138.82–$199.90).
