Wage increase: Thai businesses wary of proposed 400 baht hike

The business sector has expressed concerns over the possible negative effects of the proposed daily minimum wage increase to 400 baht. The announcement, made by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, could lead to higher costs for consumers. Industries that rely heavily on labour, such as agriculture, food export, retail trade, and construction, would be most affected by the wage increase, according to Pisit Puapan, director of the Fiscal Policy Office’s Bureau of Macroeconomic Policy.

Despite these concerns, Pisit emphasised that inflation would remain within the target range and that the impact on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) would be limited. He suggested that some businesses, such as banking and finance, could benefit from increased purchasing power.

However, the proposed minimum wage increase has not been unanimously…