Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has withdrawn the minimum wage issue from cabinet consideration for a review with the national tri-partite wage committee, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Tuesday.

He said he has to respect the wage committee and allow it more time to review the matter, but believes that it will be returned to the cabinet, probably on December 25, for consideration, ahead of the new minimum wage rates coming into effect on New Year’s Day.

The prime minister is not happy with the new minimum wages as proposed by the wage committee, saying that the increases, of between 2 and 16 baht, are too low, noting that a 2-3 baht increase is not even enough to buy a single egg.

There are nine minimum wage rates in Thailand, each based on the cost of living, inflation and economic situation in each province. The current rates range from 328 baht to 354 baht per day.