BANGKOK (Reuters): Thailand will increase the daily minimum wage by an average 2.9% to between 337 baht and 400 baht (US$9.84-$11.68) from Jan. 1, a senior official said on Monday.
The new wages align with the economic situation and the cost of living, Boonsong Thapchaiyut, the labour ministry's permanent secretary, said after a meeting of the wage committee.
The minimum wage, which varies by regions, will rise by seven to 55 baht from the current range of 330 baht to 370 baht per day, he said.
The hike will be submitted to cabinet on Tuesday, he added.
The increase was postponed from October due to lack of a quorum at meetings of the committee working on the planned rise, which include representatives from employers, workers and the government.
The hike is part of the ruling Pheu Thai party's campaign platform. It has pledged to increase the daily minimum wage further to 600 baht by 2027.
It is also part of the government's drive to revive growth in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, which has been hobbled by soaring household debt and a slowing manufacturing sector. ($1 = 34.26 baht).
(Reporting by Orathai Sriring and Kitiphong Thaichareon; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) - Reuters
