Thailand’s gaping disparity in welfare spending on state officials and the people

[webfact]

 

Budgetary provisions are under scrutiny as Thailand’s House of Representatives is currently in the process of vetting the much-delayed budget bill for fiscal 2024. The total outlay is 3.48 trillion baht (US$99 billion).

 

Public attention has turned to the widening income and wealth inequality, which has plagued Thailand for long. There has been a growing debate about the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.

 

State officials vs the people

 

The government has allocated close to 1 trillion baht for welfare spending on state officials and other citizens in fiscal year 2024. A look at the figures reveals the stark disparity in the per capita spending allocation for state officials as compared to other citizens.

 

The welfare budget for state employees and their families is 499 billion baht, Chat Khamsaeng, director at 101 Public Policy Think Tank who dug into the details of the budget provisions, revealed.

 

The welfare budget comprises pensions (329.4 billion baht), healthcare (84.6 billion baht), contributions to the Government Pension Fund (78.8 billion baht), education and life insurance (4.5 billion baht) and others (2.3 billion baht).

 

Interestingly, over time healthcare costs have ballooned.

 

Nearly 1.8 million civil service officials will be beneficiaries, including military and police personnel. They include 1.2 million state employees. In addition 4.6 million family members of state officials and 800,000 of retired state officials are covered by state healthcare.

 

By Thai PBS World’s Business Desk

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-01-30

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

[Geoffggi]

Further proof that the government do not care about the common man, it is utterly deplorable  

[Eric Loh]

1 hour ago, Geoffggi said:

Further proof that the government do not care about the common man, it is utterly deplorable  

Common people are not restricted from joining the civil services and uniformed groups. They served the country in their capacity and duly paid in salary and kinds. 

[brianthainess]

If I could say what I want, I'd be banned from AN and face a 15yr jail sentence in a closed court. 🤐

[Photoguy21]

2 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Further proof that the government do not care about the common man, it is utterly deplorable  

How many governments in the world do care about the people? I cant think of one.

[mfd101]

"Credit Suisse, an international investment bank, had earlier reported that Thailand had the largest wealth gap in the world.

The Global Wealth Report and Databook published in December 2018 showed that the richest 1 per cent in Thailand now control almost 67 per cent of the country’s wealth.

According to the Credit Suisse report, the bottom 10 per cent of Thais hold zero per cent of the wealth, being either in debt or having no documented household income.

The poorest 50 per cent of Thais now hold only 1.7 per cent of the country’s wealth, while the richest 10 per cent control a massive 85.7 per cent."

 

(Quoted from the op above)

[worgeordie]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

, healthcare (84.6 billion baht),

There was a case a few years ago about civil servant's going to hospital

with some ailment or other and receiving large quantities of medicine ,

then taking the medicine to Chemist shops and selling it for half price,

it was widespread , could still be going on today ,

 

regards worgeordie

[scorecard]

7 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Common people are not restricted from joining the civil services and uniformed groups. They served the country in their capacity and duly paid in salary and kinds. 

 

Meanwhile family get priority to register to enter, enter and get help to pass entrance exams / assessments, and to get employment.  

 

[lordgrinz]

Is the welfare money based on salary? Obviously low-skilled workers make less, thus the welfare paid out would be smaller. 

[zhounan]

What about the wealth disparity between the liberal-progressive educated class and the people?

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Public attention has turned to the widening income and wealth inequality, which has plagued Thailand for long. There has been a growing debate about the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.

It's evident in every country in the world.. it's just the size of the divide that differs.

[Classic Ray]

Salaries for police and military, especially at lower ranks are pitifully low, which encourages corruption and the need for other income. 
 

It costs me money to send my wife to work in transport and uniform expenses. They don’t even reimburse official travel costs.

 

Without the family wide health care (same as Thai citizens at Govt hospitals) the pension and job security, it would not be worth her working.

[findlay13]

The age old problem all over the world not just Thailand. But Thailand is a shining example .The rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer

[brianthainess]

We need Fighter jets not welfare for the poor init.   

[metisdead]

A post with a trolling image contravening our Community Standards has been removed.

[Srikcir]

23 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Common people are not restricted from joining the civil services and uniformed groups. They served the country in their capacity and duly paid in salary and kinds. 

Would you include army conscripts in such benefits?

Would you include "common people" having no specialized training or higher education? 83.5 per cent of the workforce in Thailand is unskilled. https://www.thailand-business-news.com/asean/52226-83-5-per-cent-workforce-thailand-unskilled

[scorecard]

18 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

Meanwhile family get priority to register to enter, enter and get help to pass entrance exams / assessments, and to get employment.  

 

 

Another example; years back it was common knowledge that all employees / new employees of TG had famous family names. Others need not apply. And well known that absenteeism / late for work was par for the course and accepted, after all they are from famous families and it would not be appropriate to ask 'why are you late?'

 

In that era (and perhaps even now) the airline had a rotating team of cabin crew on 24 hr standby ready to go to a waiting aircraft. 

 

 

[connda]

Work for the government and life is good.  Pension, Health Care, etc.
Normal people?  Too bad to be you commoners.