On December 17, 2024, Mr. Anucha Techanitisawad, President of the Association, Mr. Wiboon Suphakkapongkul, Vice President, and Ms. Saowanee Kamfaeng, Director of the Association, attended the 4th meeting of the Labor and Workforce Development Committee and the Fisheries and Related Industries Committee for 2024. The meeting was held in Room 3201, 2nd Floor, Bancharat Chonvicharn Building, at the Thai Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Pot Aramwatananon chaired the meeting.

The chairperson informed attendees of the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s stance on Thailand’s minimum wage adjustment policy as of December 9, 2024:

Key Points from the Thai Chamber of Commerce:

1. Opposition to Uniform Minimum Wage Nationwide
   The Chamber disagrees with setting the minimum wage at 400 baht uniformly across the country. Wage adjustments should consider the decisions of the provincial subcommittees on minimum wage rates, adhering to economic factors as stipulated by law under the principles of the rule of law.

2. Compliance with Labor Protection Act (1998)
   Minimum wage adjustments must strictly follow Section 87 of the Labor Protection Act, aligned with the International Labor Organization (ILO) guidelines through the Wage Committee's tripartite mechanism.

3. Frequency of Adjustments
   Wage adjustments should be made only when necessary, based on economic indicators, and no more than once a year, strictly in accordance with the law.

4. Skill-Based Wages
   The Chamber supports implementing wages based on workers' skills, as announced by the Skill Development Promotion Committee. It emphasizes upskilling, reskilling, multi-skilling, and acquiring new skills to meet labor market demands and enhance productivity.

5. Expansion of Skilled Labor Standards
   The Chamber urges the government to accelerate the announcement of wage rates for all 280 national skill standards (up from the current 129) and expand the scope of skill standards and associated wage rates for Thai workers.

6. Living Cost and Employer Relief Measures
   The Chamber recommends measures to mitigate the impact on low-income individuals and entrepreneurs, including tax incentives, reduced social security contributions, and support for upgrading machinery and workforce skills.

Additional Discussion Highlights:

1. Meeting with the Ministry of Labor
   On November 7, 2024, Dr. Pot Aramwatananon and representatives from eight related trade associations discussed labor issues with senior officials from the Ministry of Labor, including minimum wage policies, foreign labor management, and addressing forced labor allegations in U.S. reports. A joint task force was established to resolve these issues and promote good labor practices (GLP), benefiting over 2.2 million workers in 29,688 establishments nationwide.

2. Results of the 42nd National Thai Chamber of Commerce Seminar
   Held in Chonburi, the seminar proposed three main strategies for economic recovery and six key initiatives to drive sustainable growth, focusing on trade, agriculture, tourism, sustainability, infrastructure, and regional economic development.

3. TVPRA List Updates
   In 2024, Thailand succeeded in removing shrimp products from the child labor list, though they remain listed for forced labor. A task force comprising government, private sector, and NGO representatives was formed to address these issues and enhance the global image of Thailand’s fisheries.

4. Legal Seminar for Entrepreneurs
   A seminar was held to clarify labor laws and address issues related to employment, labor relations, and human resource management.

5. Promoting Employment for Discharged Soldiers
   A memorandum of understanding was signed to promote employment opportunities for discharged soldiers. By September 10, 2024, there were 25,778 job vacancies from 38 companies.

6. Sustainable Fisheries Development Proposal
   A proposal was submitted to the Minister of Agriculture, focusing on sustainable fishing, aquaculture, and seafood processing practices.

7. Addressing Declining Aquatic Product Prices
   A second MOU was signed with the Thai Tuna Industry Association and purse seine fishing groups to purchase 50,000 tons of fish from Thai fishing vessels, valued at 2 billion baht, to stabilize aquatic product prices.

This meeting underscores the collective effort to address labor issues, promote sustainable development, and strengthen Thailand’s competitiveness in the fisheries and labor sectors.