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Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine Vol. 5 No. 1 January - April 2007 Ù˘

Abstract
Survey of the Compensation for Health Massage Service Providers in Songkhla Province
Banjong Chaibu
Consumer Protection Working Group, Songkhla Provincial Public Health Office, Songkhla Province 90000
The objective of this study was to determine the factors affecting health massage service providers in
Songkhla. A survey was used to collect data. A questionnaire was designed to obtain three major types of
data, namely, general information, masseuses/masseurs’ income, and their attitude toward their present job.
The general information part included general information on the masseuses/masseurs and their places of
work, while the compensation part obtained information about their income and any fringe-benefits they
might have received. The third part included data on their attitudes toward the compensation, changing
work place, changing career, and attitudes toward their career. Descriptive analyses were used in this study to
examine the average, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum for each variable. The study results showed
that the average monthly income of the masseuses/masseurs came from two major sources, payment and tips
for massage services. Not many masseuses enjoyed a guaranteed minimum hourly rate of pay. The results
also showed that the average monthly income the masseuses in Songkhla Province received barely covered
their monthly expenses. They also received other fringe benefits, such as food and housing. Some of the
masseuses believed that they still did not receive enough fringe benefits, even though some of the benefits were
compulsory, such as social security benefits. In conclusion, this study can be used as a basis for designing ways
to improve the massage business in the province, especially workforce planning.
Key words: income, masseuse, masseur, salary, Songkhla Province