AI In-Brief

Thailand News in Brief

Thai PBS World

Thailand and the world, every day

AI can make mistakes. Please double-check.

Businesses express concern over Move Forward minimum wage increase policy

13 Sept 11:24 Key points summarised by AI

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) is scheduled to meet with the Move Forward party to express significant concerns over its policy to immediately raise the minimum wage to 450 baht/day.
Businesses, already struggling with recent economic challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and high operating costs, fear a sudden, one-step wage increase will severely impact their financial stability.
The private sector advocates for a gradual, step-by-step increase in the minimum wage, similar to the Pheu Thai party's proposed four-year implementation plan, to allow companies sufficient time to adapt and adjust.
Beyond the minimum wage, the coalition's MoU includes other economic items such as abolishing monopolies, promoting fair competition, land reform, and improving electricity production and pricing structures.

Today 14:58 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's government will launch the "Chainat-Pasak-Gulf" water diversion canal project in fiscal year 2027, a seven-year mega-infrastructure initiative.
This permanent structural solution aims to mitigate recurrent central plains flooding by diverting water from the Chao Phraya River directly into the Gulf of Thailand, significantly reducing flow to major cities like Ayutthaya and Bangkok.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul justifies the long-term investment as a means to reduce future damages and fiscal burdens, contrasting it with the 40-50 billion baht spent annually on short-term flood relief.
Concurrently, the Prime Minister instructed officials to expand drainage capacity into the Tha Chin River and swiftly remove water hyacinths to improve immediate flood management.