of even greater concern is the evolution of food prices in recent months with the fao food price index of key commodities increasing to near record levels on the back of weatherrelated shortages in key producer economies likewise minimum wagesb have fallen into neglect in some countries and they are often insufficient to meet workers basic daily necessities including health care with adjustments in minimum wages lagging behind rising gdp per capita economic growth has not translated into higher wages especially in relatively richer countries in southeast asia and south and southwest asia see figure a