Wage Board Moves Forward with Salary Adjustments for 129 Professions Using 2.9% Base Rate, Results Expected Within 90 Days
Thailand's Wage Board approved a 2.9% baseline increase for 129 skilled professions, with final salary adjustments expected within 90 days after further review of individual sector conditions.
On May 26, Deputy Labor Secretary Wannapong Kocharak chaired a meeting of the Wage Board Committee, attended by Labor Department Director-General Sarojn Khomkhai and representatives from both employers and workers. The committee reviewed wage standards for 129 skilled professions to ensure alignment with current labor market demands and worker skill levels.
The board determined the review was critical because each profession has distinct job characteristics and skill requirements, with new technologies playing an increasing role. Extensive discussions between employer and worker representatives resulted in several key conclusions. The committee approved a 2.9% increase as the baseline for calculating wages across all skilled professions.
However, additional issues were delegated back to a subcommittee for further review to ensure wage rates reflect actual market conditions for each profession. The board noted that even similar professions—such as automotive repair specialists versus automotive maintenance technicians—require different skill levels and should not use identical calculation methods. Using a one-size-fits-all approach could be unfair to workers and fail to promote genuine skills standards. The timing of wage surveys in different sectors also requires consideration, as the underlying data comes from different time periods.
