ผลกระทบของนโยบายค่าแรงขั้นต่ำ 300 บาท ต่อธุรกิจขนาดย่อม ในเขตเทศบาลตำบลช้างเผือก อำเภอเมืองเชียงใหม่ จังหวัดเชียงใหม่

Abstract

The research aims to study the impact of the 300-Baht minimum wage policy on small business entrepreneurs and labors. It focuses on problems relating implementation of the policy by small entrepreneurships in the municipal area called Chang Peuak, Muang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai Province. In this research, the Quantitative model-based is used. The data was collected by questionnaires of 2 sample groups, 170 small business entrepreneurs in Chang Peuak and 197 labors. The results are summarized as follows:

1. The study overview and employment condition in Chang Peuak, Muang District, Chiang Mai Province showed that local entrepreneurs are majority-owned restaurants, hotels, apartments and dormitories. The business model is one registered owner which has run for 5–10 years, with up to 50,000 Baht capitals. The average monthly income is up to 50,000 Baht. The wages are paid both monthly and daily. They employ up to 5 people, mainly Thais.

For the workforce/labor data found that the sample of labors are mainly Thais who have been working in Chang Peuak for a period up to 5 years. The migrant labors are mostly from Burmese with up to 5 years working in Thailand. The type of company business they currently work for is the construction with allowance up to 9,000 Baht per month. 2. The study of the impact in the 300-Baht minimum wage policy found that the majority of entrepreneurs are primary affected in investing and operating in business. It has influenced the investment in operation of entrepreneurs/business-based/ and branch expansion. The secondary effect concerns the production cost. These entail increase of the costs of labor and transportation. The price of raw materials in manufacturing/services, public utilities and welfare have also increased which affect to the bonus/ extra compensation/ overtime paid to labors.

On the impact of labor, the study found that labors’ workload has increased because the entrepreneurs have to reduce the number of employees. The need of workload increased but bonus paid decreased. For the cost of living, the labors have been affected in the rise of utility bills, followed by the cost of traveling and the rise of expenses for raising their children, grandchildren, parents and who those need care, respectively.

3. Problems and barriers in implementing the 300-Baht minimum wage policy to entrepreneur concern increasing cost of raw materials, tools and office equipment which make entrepreneurs bear the burden of higher production cost. Some entrepreneurs are recruiting employees which are still in the process of training and work in a certain period. As a result, the 300 Baht minimum wage cannot be practically implemented right away. Therefore entrepreneurs have to reduce the welfare which entailed dissatisfaction and lack of motivation to work.