Thailand may be hit by devastative storm: Suwit

Thailand may be hit by devastative storm: Suwit

Think Tank: Skills, productivity of Thai workers must be improved

Think Tank: Skills, productivity of Thai workers must be improved

Number transferral takes off

Mobile number portability (MNP) is popular with local consumers based on demand the first three days of a pilot project, even though changes are limited to 500 numbers per day at 25 designated service locations in Bangkok.

Thailand has 69 million mobile phone subscribers, 90% of whom are prepaid users.
Initially, each of the five private and state telecom firms - AIS, DTAC, True Move, TOT and CAT Telecom - are limiting MNP to 100 customers per day at five locations in Bangkok.
MNP allows mobile phone customers to switch operators without changing their number.
But customers must stay with the new operator for at least three months before making another change.
Customers are charged 99 baht to transfer their old number to new operators and the switch should be completed within three working days.
Prepaid customers have to register with their old network providers before applying the prescribed application form to their new service provider. Postpaid customers have to ensure they have paid all their fees.
Premon Pinskul, chairman of Clearing House for Number Portability Co, said the company found no technical problems on the first day of operation yesterday after receiving 1,500 MNP requests since Sunday.
The firm will start the evaluation of successful MNP transfers tomorrow, said Mr Premon, who is also the deputy chief financial officer of DTAC.
The clearinghouse was jointly established by the five operators. It plans to provide MNP service for at least 500 numbers per firm per day by Dec 15.
Mobile operators do not expect a significant shift by subscribers from one operator to another as a result of MNP because quality of service and cost are not key differentiators in the market. But industry analysts said MNP is expected to be a big hit in the country based on many surveys that customers, postpaid in particular, want to switch their networks but don't want to change their numbers.
Demand in the first three days indicates some customers really wanted to change their networks, said one analyst.

Workers set to enjoy 6.7% wage boost

The National Wage Committee has agreed to raise the daily minimum wage around the country by between 8 and 17 baht.

Supporters of the Labour Congress of Thailand rally yesterday in front of the Labour Ministry topressure the Central WageCommittee to increase the minimumdailywage by at least 10 baht. APICHART JINAKUL

The raise, which amounts to an increase of 6.7% on average, is considered a big jump.
The increase takes the average minimum wage to 176.3 baht a day, said Somkiat Chayasriwong, the permanent secretary for labour and chairman of the wage committee.
Mr Somkiat attributed the raise to the government's policy to reduce disparity in society.
The Social Security Office says about 2 million Thai workers and 2 million migrant workers will benefit from the increase.
The raise for Thai workers adds more than 6.92 billion baht to the national payroll, while the increase for migrant workers adds up to more than 7.78 billion baht.
The increase will boost the purchasing power of the 4 million workers by 14.69 billion baht.
The increase of 17 baht in the minimum wage in Phuket, from 204 baht to 221 baht, is the highest in the country.
The minimum wages in Bangkok and nearby provinces were put on an equal footing of 215 baht a day.
The minimum wage in Bangkok and Samut Prakan was raised by nine baht from 206 baht. In Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Samut Sakhon and Nonthaburi, it was increased by 10 baht from 205 baht.
Workers in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla received the second-highest raise of 15 baht.
Workers in seven provinces - Phayao, Si Sa Ket, Amnat Charoen, Nakhon Sawan, Phetchabun, Uthai Thani and Prachuap Khiri Khan - received the lowest raise of eight baht.
The minimum wage in Phayao, at 159 baht a day, remains the lowest in the country.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva earlier suggested that the minimum wage be raised to a flat rate of 250 baht across the country.
Mr Somkiat said it would take time to raise the figure to 250 baht nationwide as any increase must be made gradually. It would affect employers' ability to pay wages and workers could suffer if it was done at once.
Pannaphong It-atthanan, an employer representative on the wage committee, said the government should offer direct subsidies to low-income workers instead of pushing for minimum wage raises.
He suggested the government control the rise in commodity prices that often follows the minimum wage increase, otherwise workers would not benefit from their pay raises.
Employees' Labour Development Council of Thailand chairman Manas Kosol said he was quite satisfied by the wage committee's decision.
However, he still wanted the committee to review the raise for provinces where the pay increase was less than 10 baht.
Workers' living conditions in those provinces are still below general living standards, he said.