SUFFICIENCY LIVING WAGE IN THAILAND: Exploring Buddhist Influences on Sustainable Livelihoods and Happiness

Abstract

Since 2016 the United Nations adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the drivers of development across the world and member countries remain committed to achieving these by 2030. However, progress is being impacted negatively by critical concerns, including the impacts of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic; all of which are affecting lives and livelihoods. This chapter introduces the concept of sufficiency living wage (SLW) and it is discussed how this wage could contribute toward sustainable livelihoods in the context of Thailand. Furthermore, insights are shared about the influence of Buddhist teachings on the Thai way of living and understanding the meaning of SLW. Such a wage is positioned as a means of promoting not only the basic material standard of living but as also facilitating pathways toward happiness for workers, and that could contribute toward organizational and societal development. © 2023 Taylor and Francis.