As New School Semester Approaches, Vendors Asked to Freeze Prices of School Uniforms

CHIANG RAI – As the new school semester approaches, the Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has urged vendors to freeze the prices of school uniforms, despite the recent request from entrepreneurs to jack up the prices by three to five percents.

According to DIT Director-General Boonyarit Kalayanamit, at least one school uniform manufacturer cited the rising production cost as the reason for a price rise. The manufacturer pointed out that the labor cost in particular, has increased by two percent and the prices of the product have not been adjusted for over a decade. The proposed hike would increase the prices of school uniform by six to ten baht.

Director-General Boonyarit expects that more manufacturers will make a similar request and implored them to freeze the prices for now, citing the possibility of giving the green-light for a rise after the opening period of the upcoming semester. He believes that holding off the price increase would greatly ease the financial burden of parents.

Currently the Commerce Ministry and the private sector are jointly holding an event offering discounted school uniforms, stationery and related goods at 13,500 outlets in the nation’s major convenient stores, retailers, and malls. The four leading school uniform manufacturers are also taking part in the event, which is expected to help parents save more than six billion baht in buying school supplies.

By Nuppol Suvansombut