8.2.1 Employment practice living wage
8.2.1 Employment practice living wage
The University's Commitment to Fair Remuneration
Srinakharinwirot University is committed to ensuring that all staff receive fair wages sufficient to maintain a decent standard of living. The University places importance on appropriate remuneration for both academic and support staff, and wages must not fall below the minimum wage prescribed by Thai labour law. This commitment promotes financial security and enables all university staff to enjoy a good quality of life.
Srinakharinwirot University sets staff wages in accordance with university regulations and relevant labour laws, with reference to the Notification of the Wage Committee on Minimum Wage Rates (No. 14), issued by the Ministry of Labour and effective from 1 July 2025. This notification sets Thailand's minimum wage at THB 337–400 per day, or approximately THB 10,110–12,000 per month, depending on the area and type of business. Bangkok, where the University's main campus is located, has a minimum wage of THB 400 per day, or THB 12,000 per month. As neither Thailand nor Bangkok has officially established a living wage, the University refers to the Global Living Wage Coalition (GLWC), which reports a Living Wage Reference Value for Urban Thailand of THB 15,292 per month in 2025.
The Notification of the Wage Committee on Minimum Wage Rates (No. 14) of the Ministry of Labour, announced on 17 June 2025 and effective from 1 July 2025 (Royal Gazette, Vol. 142, Special Section 236 Ng, 1 July 2025). The Thai original is shown on the right, and the unofficial English translation prepared by the Ministry of Labour is shown on the left. Clause 2(3) sets the highest rate of THB 400 per day for Bangkok, where the University's main campus is located, while Clause 18 sets the lowest rate of THB 337 per day. The national range is therefore THB 337–400 per day, or approximately THB 10,110–12,000 per month (calculated as the daily rate multiplied by 30). The highlighted text shows the title of the notification and Clauses 2(3), 18 and 21.
The Living Wage Reference Value for Urban Thailand, 2025 update, published by the Anker Research Institute under the Global Living Wage Coalition (GLWC). The 2022 estimate of THB 14,202 was adjusted for cumulative inflation of 7.8% between June 2022 and June 2025, giving a gross living wage of THB 15,292 per month before income tax and social security contributions of THB 750 (THB 14,542 net). As neither Thailand nor Bangkok has officially established a living wage, the University uses this GLWC value as the benchmark for comparing staff starting salaries.
Starting Salaries Exceed Both the Minimum Wage and the Living Wage
For 2025, Srinakharinwirot University set wages by educational qualification in compliance with the law, in accordance with the Srinakharinwirot University Announcement on the Schedule of Starting Salary Rates for University Employees and University Contract Employees, to ensure that all staff receive wages above the statutory minimum wage, as follows:
Academic Personnel
Educational Qualification | Entry Salary (THB) | Times Higher than Minimum Wage | Times Higher than Living Wage |
Bachelor's Degree | 22,000 – 28,550 | 1.83 – 2.38 | 1.44 – 1.87 |
Master's Degree | 26,250 – 31,250 | 2.19 – 2.60 | 1.72 – 2.04 |
Doctoral Degree / Ph.D. Degree | 32,500 – 37,370 | 2.71 – 3.11 | 2.13 – 2.44 |
Operational Personnel
Educational Qualification | Entry Salary (THB) | Times Higher than Minimum Wage | Times Higher than Living Wage |
Bachelor's Degree | 20,250 – 24,820 | 1.69 – 2.07 | 1.32 – 1.62 |
Master's Degree | 24,000 – 27,190 | 2.00 – 2.27 | 1.57 – 1.78 |
Doctoral Degree / Ph.D. Degree | 30,000 – 30,980 | 2.50 – 2.58 | 1.96 – 2.03 |
Minimum Wage: THB 12,000/month / Living Wage: THB 15,292/month
An example of a recruitment announcement for academic university employees under Srinakharinwirot University Order No. 5891/2568, dated 10 June 2025, for 1 lecturer position in the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences. The salary is set by
qualification at THB 36,200 for a doctoral degree and THB 27,600 for a master's degree, approximately 3.02 and 2.30 times the Bangkok minimum wage (THB 12,000 per month) and approximately 2.37 and 1.80 times the living wage (THB 15,292 per month), respectively. The upper image is the Thai original, and the lower image is an English translation prepared for this submission; the Thai original is authoritative.
An example of a recruitment announcement for support staff under Srinakharinwirot University Order No. 5891/2568, dated 10 June 2025, for 2 Educator positions in the Research Ethics and Standards Unit. The salary is set at THB 20,250 for bachelor's degree holders in any field, approximately 1.69 times the Bangkok minimum wage (THB 12,000 per month) and approximately 1.32 times the living wage (THB 15,292 per month). The image on the left is the Thai original, and the image on the
right is an English translation prepared for this submission; the Thai original is authoritative.
The starting salaries of all Srinakharinwirot University employees, set by educational qualification, range from 1.69 to 3.11 times the statutory minimum wage under Thai labour law (Minimum Wage: THB 12,000/month). These salaries are also between 1.32 and 2.44 times the living wage (Living Wage: THB 15,292/month). In addition, the University provides a range of benefits and welfare schemes to support the quality of life of its staff.
Comprehensive Benefits Supporting Staff Quality of Life
Financial Benefits
Provident fund
Social security fund
Gratuity / pension
Severance pay
Health & Well-being
Employee Support & Protection
Family & Work-Life Balance
Children's education allowance
Admission rights to SWU Demonstration Schools
Admission rights to the Early Childhood Development Centre
Staff shuttle service
Staff accommodation
Recognition & Employee Engagement