Thailand Businesses Worry About Rising Costs as Parties Pledge Election Freebies

Thailand risks flight of some businesses if elected politicians follow through with their litany of campaign pledges that include steep increase in wages and cash handouts, according to industry groups.

The Southeast Asian nation had lifted minimum wages by an average 5% last year and any further hike will curb the country’s competitiveness, especially against Vietnam with which it competes in manufacturing, according to Wiwat Hemmondharop, vice chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries that represents companies engaged in automotive, petrochemicals and chips manufacturing.