Business
Government Ministers in Thailand Squabble Over $11 Daily Wage
Thailand’s Prime Minister and the national wage committee are at loggerheads over his proposal to boost the minimum daily salary to 400 baht ($11.00) nationwide. The committee says it won’t bow to political pressure.
The fight comes after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced on Tuesday that the rise would take effect in either September or October. The committee, however, argues that it has not reached a conclusion and will not be swayed by political influence.
He said on Facebook that the cabinet had accepted the Ministry of Labor’s proposal, and that the rise would take effect by October at the latest.
According to Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the hike will have an impact on small and medium-sized businesses, and the government will consider support measures such as tax reductions. He stated that the ministry is ready to hear feedback from affected employers in order to discover methods to assist them.
The current minimum salary ranges from 330 to 370 baht, depending on province. A 400-baht minimum is now in place in portions of ten provinces, although it only applies to tourism-related enterprises and four-star hotels employing at least 50 people.
Mr Phiphat acknowledged that 400 baht per day was still less than the minimum wage in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Malaysia’s daily minimum is 448 baht for a six-day work week and 538 baht for a five-day work week.
In Indonesia, monthly minimum salaries vary by province, ranging from 4,637 baht to 11,536 baht. This equates to 185 to 461 baht a day throughout a month with 25 working days.
According to Deputy Government Spokesman Karom Phonphonklang, the national wage committee plans to announce the pay raise in the Royal Gazette in September or October.
He stated that the committee will meet with the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Chamber of Commerce by the end of the month to discuss the impact of the wage increase on enterprises.
The tripartite committee, which is independent of the government by law, met on Tuesday to examine the plan but could not reach a decision. It consists of representatives from the government, employers, and employees.
Speaking thereafter, Pairoj Chotikasathien, permanent secretary to the Labour Ministry and committee chairman, stated that it was not a political tool.
It directed its provincial subcommittees around the country to assess the appropriate wage rates in each province, the business kinds to which they should apply, and whether they agree to an increase to 400 baht in October. Mr Pairoj said the information must be provided to the salary committee by the end of July.
The wage committee’s decisions cannot be overruled [by any lawmaker]. It makes judgments based on economic situations, inflation, and local consumer goods prices. The conditions vary per province.
“Some small and-medium-sized enterprises and retail businesses may not be ready for the wage hike,” said Mr. Pairoj. “The provincial wage subcommittees will present the information and recommendations to the main committee for a final decision.”
Thailand’s Household Debt
Thailand’s household debt is predicted to climb dramatically by 2024 as a result of economic uncertainty and inflationary pressures. The pandemic’s aftermath, combined with global supply chain disruptions and increased living costs, may burden many Thai families’ finances.
Experts warn that lower-income households may struggle to manage their debts, thereby increasing loan defaults and credit concerns for lenders.
To reduce this danger, authorities are considering initiatives to encourage financial literacy, control predatory lending practices, and offer debt relief programs to vulnerable groups.
However, adopting effective remedies remains difficult, as policymakers must strike a balance between aiding households and ensuring general economic stability. Proactive measures are required to avoid a vicious cycle of over indebtedness and its economic consequences.
According to the IIF research, Thailand’s household debt in the fourth quarter of 2023 was 91.6% of the country’s GDP, or roughly equivalent to the whole economy. This was the highest household debt ratio among Southeast Asian nations.
Business
PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.
(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.
Business
Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
(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
Business
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
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.
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.
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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