Three years on, the magical effect of the 300-baht minimum wage on the quality of life of Bangkok workers has waned, with almost 70% now saying their lives have not improved, according to a poll.
The Bangkok University survey was conducted by interviewing 1,127 workers aged 18 or more in Bangkok and its surrounding areas between April 25 and 28. Roughly 50.6% of the subjects were men.
It found 50.5% of the workers felt their quality of life was unchanged, up 4.6 percentage points from the previous year. Another 18.9% said their lives had got worse, up nine points from the previous year.
A majority, or 73.6% of respondents, were not born in Bangkok or nearby provinces.
Asked why they did not work in their hometowns, 63.3% of this group said the choice of jobs was limited while 31.3% felt the welfare was better in the capital and 29.7% said there were fewer job openings where they were born.
Asked if they thought their situation would get worse after the Asean Economic Community liberalised some job markets this year, 65.7% were not concerned and believed Thai labour was more skilled while 34.3% worried because foreign labour was tougher and more patient.
The survey found 89.3% of respondents thought the minimum wage should be raised. Of this group, 79.6% wanted it to apply nationwide while 9.7% wanted to see higher pay only in key economic areas such as Bangkok and vicinity.
Only 10.7% were against the hike, citing as reasons subsequent higher goods prices and the lacklustre economy.
Asked how worried they were about losing jobs if the minimum wage was raised, 67% were slightly or not worried while 33% were very or extremely concerned.
Recent studies have suggested the daily minimum wage be raised. The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce suggested last week a 5-7% increase or 15-21 baht would help people cope with the impacts of drought and the sluggish economy.
Labour groups have urged for a 60-baht hike and a flat nationwide minimum wage. The Labour Ministry said it was considering the request.
The Yingluck Shinawatra government set a nationwide daily minimum wage at 300 baht as one of her party's election promises in 2013 amid protests from businesses which said they could ill afford it.
Following the May 22, 2014 coup, the junta scrapped the nationwide wage and let provincial labour boards in each province set the floor. However, most have maintained the 300-baht rate.