Some state workers get Bt500 a month allowance

"Their monthly allowances will be go by at least Bt500," Labour Minister Uraiwan Thienthong says. The Finance Ministry will finalise the allowances in a week.

She chaired the State Enterprise Labour Relations Committee meeting yesterday and says the costofliving allowance is a temporary measure. "On salary adjustments, it depends if each state enterprise is financially ready for it," Uraiwan said.

Provincial Electricity Authority labour union chairman Sudjaroen Somchom says the costofliving allowance for lowincome employees is urgently needed. "Rising living costs hurt everyone," he says.

Sudjaroen represents state enterprise employees on the committee. "I plan to ask it to raise costofliving allowances for all employees of state enterprises at the next meeting."