CNI News

10 October 2023

There is no difference in the minimum wage between Thai and foreign workers, confirmed the Thai Ministry of Labor. 

But in practice foreign migrant workers get only the minimum wage and Thai workers get more than the minimum wage, pointed out the people helping in the affairs of Myanmar migrant workers.

" Our migrant workers cannot get skilled jobs. These kinds of jobs are paid more money. Thai government raised salaries that are included in 12 kinds of skilled jobs. Of them, some are related to Thai people only. Some skilled workers get 400 to 600 bahts a day. Jobs are divided according to the nature of work in the provinces. Every workers get basic salary." said U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs for the Foundation for Education and Development (FED), to CNI News.

Although wages are different on the skill in the workplace, most of the foreign migrant workers get the minimum wage designated. However, workers in border regions get under the minimum wage reportedly.

Foreign workers who have arrived in Thailand

Because rumour had that raising the minimum wage to 400 bahts a day applied only Thai workers has been spreading, Thai Ministry of Labor has released a statement like this.

Restriction on foreign workers in relation to jobs in Thailand should be relaxed, said Ko Thar Gyi who is helping in the affairs of Myanmar migrant workers, to CNI News.

" Many of our citizens can speak English well. There are many Myanmar people who can speak Chinese well. There are Myanmar citizens who are working in the well-known Thai companies as HR staff, but not many. They are employing the staff secretly. The jobs that don't allow foreign workers contain house maid as well. According to the MoU, Myanmar workers are not allowed to work as house maids. But among 5 million Myanmar people working in Thailand, 10 percent of them are working as house maids. Because there are foreign workers in the forbidden jobs, we want the forbidden jobs to be reduced." said Ko Thar Gyi.

There is a plan that will surely raise the minimum wage in Thailand and monetary inflation and living cost will be taken into consideration in designation of the minimum wage rate reportedly.