• 
• 

Published on December 28, 2007

"The IT [information technology] sector is ranked No 1, even though the average increase in 2008 will fall slightly below the sector's average increases of 7.26 per cent this year," said president Chatphong Wongsuk.

He was releasing information from a recent survey of 163 companies in 17 industries, seeking

details of salaries that are expected to be increased next year.

Trailing behind IT companies in the top five sectors were construction and property companies. Average salary increases in this sector are expected to reach 6.77 per cent, higher than last year's 5.6 per cent.

"Although there are fewer state construction projects open for bidding, there are many city condominium projects under construction. This is a crucial factor in accelerating growth of construction and property firms," he said.

The consumer products sector is ranked third, with 2008 expected salary increases averaging 6.6 per cent.

Heavy industries and automobile manufacturers follow, with average salary increases expected to reach 6.5 per cent and 6.33 per cent, respectively.

Chatphong said average salary increases this year reached 6.02 per cent, down from 6.1 per cent last year.

"Salary increases in 2007 and 2008 will show a drop from the previous years, due mainly to the economic slowdown," he said.

"The Consumer Price Index, inflation and rising oil prices have combined to pull down average salary increases."

For the first time, banks and other financial institutions fell from the top five sectors in terms of salary increases that will take effect next year.

This reflects the poor state of the economy that has deterred loan applications and made the stock market unattractive, Chatphong said.

In the association's survey, the banking and financial institutions sector ranked No 8.

PTT human-resources director Suphan Kittithorn told a recent seminar that PTT's salaries had increased an average of 8 per cent over the past three years.

He expects that to be 7.5-8.5 per cent next year.

"Determining the rate will be employees' performance, their positions, the cost of living and length of service. Some criteria could differ from market standards," he said.

Suphan added that in bad economic times, companies' human-resources executives had to be cautious in setting levels of remuneration.

Nalin Viboonchart

 The Nation