PM reiterates government’s focus on raising people’s income – 400 baht minimum wage is achievable

Government House, The Prime Minister insists that the government is doing everything to raise people's incomes, along with compensating for electricity and oil expenses, saying that a minimum wage of 400 baht is possible, but it will not reach 600 baht immediately. Prime Minister Settha Thavisin gave an interview after chairing the cabinet meeting about the Bank of Thailand (BOT) disclosing the cost of living figures for 2019 to the current government, which were found to be significantly higher and not related to wages. What will the government do to solve the problem so that the cost of living and wages are related? He said that this issue must have 2 dimensions, whether it is increasing income for the people, such as the discussion of the half-and-half fertilizer scheme. We want to increase income for the agricultural sector, making the yield per rai higher and the price better, opening new markets, and signing FTAs ??to raise incomes. In terms of expenses, we have compensation for electricity and oil c osts, debt suspension for farmers, and solving informal debt problems. These are some of the things we are trying to do. When asked whether the Pheu Thai Party's campaign promise of raising the minimum wage to 600 baht within four years, which has been a year, he thought would be reached, the Prime Minister said, "We are trying. A moment ago, I spoke with Mr. Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, the Minister of Labor, who confirmed that 400 baht is possible, but it will not reach 600 baht immediately." Source: Thai News Agency