Chiang Rai workers are now to be paid Bt157, the highest in the Kingdom

The daily minimum wage will rise across the country from June 1.

The biggest rise is for Chiang Rai workers. The Tripartite Wage Committee yesterday approved an Bt11 rise for the northern province. Currently, Chiang Rai workers earn a minimum of Bt146 a day. From June 1, that rises to Bt157.

"We have adjusted the daily minimum wage based on the 5-per-cent inflation rate," Labour Ministry permanent secretary Chuthatawat Indrasuksri says. He chairs the wage committee.

Workers in Bangkok, Nontha-buri, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Ubon Ratchathani, Saraburi and Chiang Mai will enjoy a Bt9 rise.

Those in most other pro-vinces are set to get Bt7 to Bt8 more a day. Sukhothai, Uttara-dit and Chaiyaphum got just Bt2.

Bt2 rise

However, Tiwarat Thienthep-wiboon, who represents workers in Sukhothai, complains that the pay rise approved for workers in her province is too low. "What can Bt2 do for workers burdened with the rising cost of living?" she asks.

A former representative of workers in Chaiyaphum, Terd-sak Saengpakdee, says workers in fact need a Bt10 pay rise.

"The price of rice has now doubled. What can workers do with a Bt2 rise? he asks.

Pannapong It-athannon, secretary-general for the Emplo-yers' Confederation of Thai Trade, says the pay rise for workers will harm businesses, especially smaller ones.