On December 23, 2024, at 18.30 hours, Mr. Boonsong Thapchaiyut, the Permanent Secretary of Labour, gave a report after the 22nd Wage Committee Meeting No. 11/2024. The meeting had government representatives, employer representatives, employee representatives, and relevant officials attend the Prasong Rananant Meeting Room, 5th floor, Ministry of Labour Building. He said that the Wage Committee meeting considered and approved the increase in the minimum wage by 7 to 55 Baht per day (an average of 2.9 percent), divided into 17 rates, which were mainly considered based on the cost of living and economic structure, with the highest rate being 400 Baht per day and the lowest rate being 337 Baht per day, as follows: 1. The minimum wage rate is adjusted to 400 Baht per day in 4 provinces and 1 district, including Phuket, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Rayong and Koh Samui District, Surat Thani Province. 2. The minimum wage rate is adjusted to 380 Baht per day in Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai Province, and Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. 3. The minimum wage rate is adjusted to 372 Baht per day in Bangkok and its vicinity, a total of 6 provinces (an increase of 2.5 percent). 4. The minimum wage rate in the remaining 67 provinces will increase by 2.0 percent, effective from January 1, 2025 onwards. The Ministry of Labour will submit this matter to the Cabinet for announcement in the Government Gazette for further enforcement.
The Permanent Secretary of Labour added that this minimum wage increase is to enable general workers who are new to work to be able to live in a way that is appropriate to their standard of living, the current economic and social conditions, and in line with the capabilities of local businesses. This minimum wage adjustment will benefit 3,760,697 employees. In 2025, the Wage Committee has decentralized the consideration of minimum wage rates to the regions through 77 subcommittees to consider minimum wage rates in order to consider the minimum wage rate recommendations of the provinces in accordance with the criteria set out in the Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541 which was amended by the Labour Protection Act (No. 6) B.E. 2560, Section 87, divided into 3 groups: Group 1, the necessity of living of employees. Group 2 is the ability of employers to pay, and Group 3 is the overall economy and society. The consideration of the increased cost of living is a major factor for employees to have wages sufficient for living, and consideration is based on equality, including listening to the opinions of all parties so that employers and employees can conduct business and make a living.
