Some women apply to work in these areas, so that they can earn higher wages. Because of the heavier work involved Siam Unisole employs a greater ratio of men to women. Siam Unisole employees in the stitching line. This photograph was taken after the introduction of personal protective equipment. The Bangkok Rubber Group is located in Ayuttaya Province, just outside of Bangkok.
Workers there come mostly from the nearby districts and provinces.
As the Wongpaitoon Group manufactures in the Bangkok area, the minimum wage there is 162 baht per day. Many of the areas where workers produce footwear are not in Bangkok proper, and thus the minimum wage is lower. Despite this, the cost of living is similar to that of Bangkok Overtime pay and bonuses are crucial for workers because regular wages are very low. Pan Asia Footwear assured its clients in its annual report in 1998 that, due to the economic recession in Thailand, there would be no further increase in the minimum wage in 1998. The minimum wage has remained the same for the past 18 months even though consumer prices have increased dramatically.