Pheu Thai's promise of high minimum wage 'extremely dangerous': Suchart

Suchart, who is United Thai Nation Party (UTNP)’s party-list MP candidate, attacked Pheu Thai’s policy on Saturday. He was on stage promoting UTNP candidate Ronnathep Anuwat in Chonburi’s Phanat Nikhom district.

Pheu Thai has said that if wins ruling power, it will increase the daily minimum wage for unskilled labourers to 600 baht nationwide.

The current rate introduced in October last year varies between 328 to 354 baht depending on the province.

“This is an extremely dangerous policy. Factories will shut down and small businesses will not be able to shoulder the cost,” Suchart said on the rally stage.

He said a flat high daily wage for unskilled workers would be harmful to the workforce as companies will choose to automate operations to save costs and lay off workers.

He said a similar phenomenon took place when the daily wage rate was raised to 300 baht in 2011 during then-PM Yingluck Shinawatra’s tenure.

Suchart said the government should not interfere in the daily wage decision but should leave it up to the tripartite wage committee, which comprises representatives of employers, employees and government agencies.

He said the wage committee will take into account the per capita GDP in each province to determine an appropriate rate.

He also said that instead of forcing a high daily minimum wage on employers, the government should help upskill the labour force. This way workers can demand more based on their skills.

Suchart said the Labour Ministry has won approval from the Cabinet to set higher daily wages for 129 types of skilled workers.

He added that he has chosen not to contest as a constituency candidate as he did in 2019 because he wants to help the party’s PM candidate, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, campaign nationwide.

He said if he contested for Chonburi’s Constituency 1 like he did the last time, he would not be able to travel across the province or around the country to campaign.