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Thailand Businesses in Turmoil Over Increase in Minimum Wage

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January of this year, the increase to 300 baht was fully implemented in all provinces. Japanese companies operating in Thailand are also affected as they are having difficulty securing labor.

 

BANGKOK – Tens of thousands of small factories across Thailand are battling for survival after the government raised the minimum daily wage.

Instead of making life better for ordinary laborers, as intended, the policy has had the opposite effect.

Small and midsize factories, especially in outlying areas, are reeling from the decision to enforce a minimum wage of 300 baht (930 yen, or $9). Many have had to close.

Thailand’s northern province of Lampang is famous for making ceramics. Yet, factories and workshops there are often empty of workers.

According to Wongchai Srithai, vice president of the Lampang Ceramic Association, the group’s membership has fallen by one-third, from 300 to 200 ceramics makers, in the past year or so.

“The number of workers has halved from 12,000. Small and midsize businesses and micro-enterprises are no exception,” he said. “They are grappling with whether to shut down their factories.”

The policy was a centerpiece of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s campaign platform. Her administration took office after her party’s victory in the 2011 general election.

In the first phase of the minimum wage increase in April 2012, the rate was raised to 300 baht in seven provinces, including Bangkok, where it was already relatively high. It went up by 40 percent in the remaining provinces.

Then in January of this year, the increase to 300 baht was fully implemented in all provinces. Japanese companies operating in Thailand are also affected as they are having difficulty securing labor.

 

DECLINING COMPETITIVENESS

In Tak Province, in Thailand’s northwest, the situation is the same for garment factories. A 31-year-old man who started a sewing plant for children’s apparel five years ago closed his factory in May.

“This region depends on laborers from Myanmar, but as soon as the government decided to raise the minimum wage, workers started heading for the cities,” the man said. “We lost the advantage of low wages, orders decreased, and when we got rid of overtime to hold down personnel costs, we couldn’t process the remaining orders efficiently.”

Each province in Thailand used to set its own minimum wage, with more remote regions being cheaper. This was the source of rural industry’s competitiveness. The new system introduced by the Yingluck Shinawatra administration, however, is unusual in that it raised the minimum wage nationwide, regardless of each area’s stage of economic development or price levels.

The minimum wage in Lampang Province went up 81 percent from 165 baht between April 2012 and this past January. In Tak Province, it rose 85 percent from 162 baht.

Before April 2012, when the first stage of wage increases was implemented, the Dhurakij Pundit University Research Center surveyed 685 owners of small and midsize factories across Thailand.

It found that the smaller the company, the less room it had to absorb the effects of the wage increase, and 12.5 percent of respondents replied that they had been forced to close.

Roughly 300,000 companies run small, medium and micro factories in Thailand, and the survey results indicate the possibility that between 50,000 and 70,000 of them will be forced to suspend operations.

 

GOING UNDERGROUND

Some managers are trying to deal with the issue by shifting from labor intensive business models and introducing automated machinery and streamlined production lines.

Others, however, are apparently operating outside the law.

One example is the “underground concealment model.” In such cases, a company will lay off most of its employees at a factory but continue operating it.

The company then create a separate production facility that is not registered as a company and transfers the laid-off workers there, where they are forced to work for less than 300 baht per day.

The laborers, now officially unemployed, turn up because at least they have the offer of work, albeit for less than the minimum wage.

Another is the “outsourcing model,” by which a company will get its laborers, such as those who sew clothes, to take their sewing machines home, then terminate their employment contract and conclude an outsourcing contract for the work.

This way the worker is not covered by the minimum wage.

The policy is causing higher wages throughout supply chains, and prices for goods and services are beginning to rise as well.

According to Ministry of Commerce statistics, prices for food essentials such as vegetables, fruits and meats rose by 6 to 10 percent this past June compared with a year ago, striking a serious blow to low-income earners.

Kiatanan Luankaew, director of the Dhurakij Pundit University Research Center, said: “The policy weakens the small and midsize business enterprises that support the Thai economy. It’s reckless to raise the minimum wage nationwide in so short a time frame.

“Populist politics might attract votes, but the results are transient. Wages are not going up for a while, but inflation continues. Poor laborers may be the victims of this policy,” he added.

By RYOSUKE ONO

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PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.

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(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.

This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.

Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.

Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.

The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.

Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.

Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.

The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.

Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.

Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.

Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.

Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.

Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”

Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.

The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.

Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.

The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.

Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”

Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.

The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.

Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.

The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:

SOURCE: CNBC

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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

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(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.

This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.

For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.

This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.

Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”

This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.

This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.

Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.

Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.

Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.

This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.

It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.

Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”

This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.

We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.

Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.

SOURCE: THBL

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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

States Sue TikTok, Claiming Its Platform Is Addictive And Harms The Mental Health Of Children

Qantas Airways Apologizes After R-Rated Film Reportedly Airs On Every Screen During Flight

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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

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water

The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.

water

American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.

water

The corporation stated that it has alerted legal enforcement and is cooperating with them. It also stated that consumers will not be charged late fees while its systems are unavailable.

According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

SOURCE | AP

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