The 2022 daily minimum wage is set to be increased by 5.02%, tentatively from October 1st, pending final deliberation by the cabinet. This would raise the average to 337 baht, according to Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Labour Boonchob Suttamanaswong today (Friday).
He added that the wage committee took into account several factors, including employers, employees and the purchasing power in the country, which is expected to increase.
The daily minimum wage varies by province. With adjustments, the highest minimum daily wage of 354 baht will apply in Chonburi, Rayong and Phuket. The lowest, of 328 baht, will apply in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Nan and Udon Thani, with 353 baht in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon.
The outcome of the meeting will be submitted to the cabinet for approval, with October 1st, 2022 slated as the implementation date.
The move comes amid an ongoing exodus of migrant workers, legal and illegal, to other countries, especially South Korea, which offers minimum wages which are about six times higher than those currently available in Thailand.