Thailand: PTT to Raise Minimum Wage Rate in 2012

PTT Plc is preparing to increase the daily minimum wage to 300 baht beginning 1 January 2012 following the policy of the Pheu Thai-led government.

PTT Plc CEO and President Prasert Bunsumpun announced that the minimum wage hike will be applied to labourers holding direct contracts, and the company will shoulder the rising operating cost of over 500 million baht per year.

The president elaborated that the minimum wage will be adjusted for PTT workers in major provinces first such as Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathumthani, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan and Phuket while wages in other provinces will be adjusted in due course.

As for employees working in PTT fuel service stations owned by private entrepreneurs, Mr Prasert said the PTT has a policy to encourage those owners to adopt the same policy by raising the minimum wage at the beginning of next year. He said studies are being made on how the PTT can support the entrepreneurs to do so.

The president expressed his hope that the daily minimum wage hike policy will be able to uplift life quality of labourers working in the company as well as boost their morale which will lead to greater operational efficiency later on.
  
PetrolWorld 050911  Source: Nation