Permanent Secretary of Labor admits that the 400 baht minimum wage may not be in time for 1 Oct., indicating that he is waiting for “Methi” to resign to find a new representative of the Bank of Thailand to join the tripartite, confirming that he will work to his full potential before retirement.
Mr. Pairoj Chotikasathian, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labor, revealed about the meeting of the Wage Board to consider the minimum wage of 400 baht after the meeting on September 20 failed twice that he had been informed by the Bank of Thailand or BoT that Mr. Methee Supapong was no longer a BoT representative. Therefore, he had to wait for the BoT to confirm in writing and send a new representative. As for Mr. Methee, he had to resign because the appointment was made by the Cabinet resolution, which was by name. In order to appoint someone else, they had to resign first.
When asked whether the next step will be to nominate a new person to replace Mr. Methee and propose the cabinet, Mr. Pairoj said yes, and the point is that on the day of the salary board meeting, he still thought that Mr. Methee was still a representative of the BOT. When checking the government agencies that did not attend the meeting, including the BOT, they stated that they were not responsible for Mr. Methee’s actions. He therefore wrote a letter to the BOT to make it in writing as evidence that Mr. Methee was no longer involved.
As for his own working period, which is only 6 days left before retirement, is it not enough time to take responsibility for this part? Mr. Pairoj emphasized that he must wait for a letter from the Bank of Thailand to respond.
When asked if it will not be in time for the announcement of the minimum wage increase on October 1st and will have to be postponed, Mr. Pairoj admitted that it will probably not be in time for October 1st. However, if Mr. Methee resigns within this week and we can find a replacement for Mr. Methee and submit it to the Cabinet, it may be announced in the Royal Gazette in time, delaying by 1-2 weeks.
Mr. Pairoj also stated that after he retired from government service, it was the duty of the Tripartite Permanent Secretary, that is, the new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labor. He confirmed that he had done his best and given his all.
Whether it will survive or not, Mr. Pairoj said that the wage issue is a sensitive issue. If he were not in the meeting room, he would not know how each issue was being considered. The employers have one perspective. Every employer has reasons. The employees have reasons. The government must coordinate the ideas of both sides, including the government sector, to come together in a form to decide how much the increase will be. He himself knows that the media is waiting for an answer.
Source: Thai News Agency