Here is a look at the top NATIONAL stories, chosen by our Pattaya News/TPN National team, from last week, August 12th to the 18th, with some commentary. They are not in any particular level of importance but are listed in the order of date of publication.

1. Thai Cabinet Committee approves increase of daily minimum wage, proposed by Labour Ministry, to be effective in October
The minimum wage increase, proposed by the Ministry of Labour, was approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday which would grant the daily wage to increase by 5.02 percent nationwide. The highest rate of 354 baht would be applying in Chonburi and Phuket and the lowest of 328 baht would be in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Nan, and Udon Thani. The adjustment would be implemented in the next month.
2. Thai Constitutional Court to rule on Prayut’s ministry term limit controversy on September 30th
After receiving additional documents from the House of Representatives, the Committee of the Judge of the Constitutional Court last Wednesday set the date for its verdict on Prayut’s eight-year term limit controversy to be at the end of the month. The Court would conduct a meeting to consult, vote, and read the verdict to both parties at 3:00 PM. according to the schedule.
Thai Constitutional Court to rule on Prayut’s ministry term limit controversy on September 30th
3. Thai Democrat Party demanded Cannabis and Hemp Draft Act withdrawal from council’s consideration
Following the House of Representatives’ vote on Wednesday, the Cannabis and Hemp Draft Act, drafted by the Public Health Ministry’s drafting committee, was withdrawn from its agenda for reconsideration. The result triggered disagreement among the coalition government parties as majorities of them said that the law was loose and lacked controlling regulations of the plantations, especially on the recreational use of marijuana. Therefore, they’d like the draft to be reviewed and re-proposed which could delay and might not be in time for the approval during this current government as the next election is scheduled to be in March of next year.
And, that is all for this week. Thank you as always for reading the Pattaya News/TPN News!
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