Labour groups say workers are being ripped off by employers after the 300-baht minimum wage policy was introduced and have called on the Pheu Thai Party to rectify the situation.
Employers were resorting to "dirty tricks" to avoid paying employees the new minimum wage, Thai Labour Reconciliation Committee head Chalee Loysung said. Since the new wage was introduced on April 1, the committee has received 73 complaints from workers who said their employers refused to comply with the wage policy.
The companies calculate the amounts of welfare given to the workers and combine them with their old wage to create a new wage that exceeds the 300 baht rate, Mr Chalee told a recent forum attended by labour leaders to discuss the issue in Bangkok.
He said the problem was particularly common among garment, furniture and restaurant businesses.
At some companies, workers who received more than 300 baht a day before April 1 had their wages cut after the policy was launched. The firms used the money saved from the cut to pay other lesser-paid workers to meet the wage policy.
The new minimum wage is in effect in Phuket, Bangkok and surrounding provinces which have high costs of living and large industries. The new minimum wage will be implemented in the rest of the country on Jan 1 next year.
Mr Chalee said some businesses, including those in electronics manufacturing, laid off workers before April 1 so they would not have to meet severance payments based on the new wage.
He said even union leaders were sacked or were not given overtime.
Mr Chalee insisted the Pheu Thai Party must take responsibility for its flagship policy, which has been sidestepped by some employers.
"The party must address the problems and straighten them out for the affected workers," he said.
Yongyuth Mentaphao, chairman of the Thai Autoworkers Federation, said he expects the Jan 1 wage hike for the rest of the country to unleash more problems for workers.
He said the government must prepare for the consequences that might arise. He said the new wage will help reduce economic disparities.
"The workers should not be left to fend for themselves under pressure from the employers," Mr Yongyuth said.
He said the Pheu Thai Party had touted its wage hike platform during the previous election and "now the politicians must take care of the workers".
Wisut Ruengrit, of the Federation of Thailand Automotive Workers Unions, said wage hikes in the automotive industry varied. Some introduced a new pay scale only for the lesser-paid workers. Others gave a larger percentage of the increment to entry-level workers than that given to senior workers.
Chaloey Chombulan, of the Garment Workers' Federation, said some companies cut back on welfare as early as April 1.
Employers were resorting to "dirty tricks" to avoid paying employees the new minimum wage, Thai Labour Reconciliation Committee head Chalee Loysung said. Since the new wage was introduced on April 1, the committee has received 73 complaints from workers who said their employers refused to comply with the wage policy.
The companies calculate the amounts of welfare given to the workers and combine them with their old wage to create a new wage that exceeds the 300 baht rate, Mr Chalee told a recent forum attended by labour leaders to discuss the issue in Bangkok.
He said the problem was particularly common among garment, furniture and restaurant businesses.
At some companies, workers who received more than 300 baht a day before April 1 had their wages cut after the policy was launched. The firms used the money saved from the cut to pay other lesser-paid workers to meet the wage policy.
The new minimum wage is in effect in Phuket, Bangkok and surrounding provinces which have high costs of living and large industries. The new minimum wage will be implemented in the rest of the country on Jan 1 next year.
Mr Chalee said some businesses, including those in electronics manufacturing, laid off workers before April 1 so they would not have to meet severance payments based on the new wage.
He said even union leaders were sacked or were not given overtime.
Mr Chalee insisted the Pheu Thai Party must take responsibility for its flagship policy, which has been sidestepped by some employers.
"The party must address the problems and straighten them out for the affected workers," he said.
Yongyuth Mentaphao, chairman of the Thai Autoworkers Federation, said he expects the Jan 1 wage hike for the rest of the country to unleash more problems for workers.
He said the government must prepare for the consequences that might arise. He said the new wage will help reduce economic disparities.
"The workers should not be left to fend for themselves under pressure from the employers," Mr Yongyuth said.
He said the Pheu Thai Party had touted its wage hike platform during the previous election and "now the politicians must take care of the workers".
Wisut Ruengrit, of the Federation of Thailand Automotive Workers Unions, said wage hikes in the automotive industry varied. Some introduced a new pay scale only for the lesser-paid workers. Others gave a larger percentage of the increment to entry-level workers than that given to senior workers.
Chaloey Chombulan, of the Garment Workers' Federation, said some companies cut back on welfare as early as April 1.
