"Pitha" leads the economic team to meet the Federation of Thai Industries Discuss the issue of increasing wages About to set up a working group for each cluster.
On May 23, 2566, Mr. Pitha Limjaroenrat Progressive party leader Along with the economic team of the Progressive Party, Sirikanya Tansakul, Weerayut Kanchuchat and Suphan Mongkolsuthi, representatives from the Thai Sang Thai Party. Met with the Federation of Thai Industries (F.T.I.), led by Kriengkrai Thiannukul, F.T.I. President, to listen to policy proposals from the industry as well as listen to problems, obstacles, and concerns of industry representatives.
The atmosphere of the conversation was good. Most of the suggestions correspond to the policies of the Progressive Party that will be included in government policy, such as energy prices. increasing labor productivity, etc. The private sector believes that under the collaboration between the public and private sectors, the benefits of the country and the people are the focus. Operate with transparency and caution It will build confidence and lead the country's economy into the future.
Mr. Pitha said that he had the opportunity to work with the Federation of Thai Industries. For the first time since 20 years ago, on that day Thailand talked about building competitiveness. Through the Cluster Plus industrial integration strategy But as time passed, it was seen that many matters that had been discussed had not been continued. The Progressive Party therefore wants to push the industry to meet new needs of the country, whether it be the creative economy. Adopting new technology such as blockchain, creating a new industrial strategy, especially changing from Made in Thailand to Made with Thailand, where Thailand is not just contract manufacturing. But Thai industry must be included in the value chain of world industry.
Thai industry in the future needs to have 3F.
- Firm Foundation or a strong foundation, such as highly skilled workers, technology, and good infrastructure
- Fair Or fairness because over the past 40 years, Thai industry has grown from direct investment from abroad. What follows is inequality. In taking Thailand to a high-income country, it is necessary to think about reducing inequality as well.
- Fast Growing Industry In Thailand, it is necessary to push research and development (R&D) and promote new industries such as electric vehicles (EV). Even though Thailand does not have the resources such as cobalt and nickel needed to produce batteries in foreign countries, But Thailand needs to find gaps in new industries. that still have few competitors, such as the production of silicon carbide chips This is something that requires working together in both the public and private sectors.
“Thailand in the future must grow by increasing labor productivity and increasing the use of technology. To produce things of high value It is not about growing by keeping wages low and competitiveness low,” Pitha said.
Part of this is to increase competitiveness. is to accelerate the negotiation of the Thai-EU Free Trade Area (FTA) to success. Pitha said that the MOU to establish the government that occurred is Thailand's success in peacefully transitioning to democracy. After the country has returned to democracy It is believed that the Thai-EU FTA negotiations will be completed quickly. But at the same time, when looking at the utilization rate of the Free Trade Area (FTA Utilization), it can be seen that the utilization of existing FTAs is still not fully exploited. Under the new government, utilization of this FTA must be a measure of success in further work.
However, in talking Federation of Thai Industries Several policies have been proposed. Whether it is the industrial development strategy of the future, Next-GEN Industries, energy policy, labor policy, SME policy, most agree with the policies of the Forward Party. Especially the energy price policy that is fair. Sirikanya said there are good signs from the Energy Regulatory Commission that they are ready to change the natural gas allocation formula. This can be done as soon as there is a new government. You will see results in reduced electricity bills by January 2567.
As for concerns about increasing wages, Pitha pledged that increasing labor productivity must be done while taking care of the lives of fellow workers. If your stomach isn't full, you won't be able to think about improving your skills. But the party's progressive policy involves increasing wages along with measures to help the private sector. Strengthening labor skills And there is a system to increase wages every year according to economic conditions and inflation. So that the productivity and income of the people grow together.
Finally, Pitha addressed the members of the Industrial Council. That the challenge of today's world is a global minimum corporate tax that will attract investment using traditional tax measures. It's no longer possible. Attracting future investment It's not just about tax incentives. But it's about the ease of doing business. Guillotine, unnecessary rules suppressing corruption The fact that Thailand has direct foreign investment is ranked 5th-6th in ASEAN, worse than the Philippines. Worse than Indonesia It is quite challenging. Now there are economic, environmental, public health and other social challenges. It's the same thing.
As for the next step, he and his party have progressed further. Want to continue working with the Federation of Thai Industries is to set up a working group for each cluster By taking the problems of each industry that are different to solve problems. Whether it be legal matters, technology, capital, labor to continue working together in the future.
