Probe into Salary Deductions for Thai Military Conscripts Unveiled

[webfact]

 

An investigation has been initiated by Thailand's Second Army Region following a leaked document that allegedly shows deductions from new conscripts' salaries, sparking controversy online.

 

The document, shared by the Facebook page "E-Sor Crushing News 3," purportedly details the expense account of new conscripts from a specific military unit. According to the page, various deductions—including a 500 Baht fee for septic tank pumping—result in conscripts receiving less than 5,000 Baht after all deductions.

 

The document outlines an income of 10,990 Baht, with deductions for life insurance, uniforms, training equipment, cleaning supplies, and other expenses, leaving a net remaining amount of 4,710 Baht. The 500 Baht for septic tank pumping attracted particular attention and criticism.

 

Reacting to the backlash, the military clarified that some deductions were misunderstood. A subsequent post indicated that the 500 Baht septic tank pumping fee had been cancelled, attributing the deduction to a mistake.

 

Lt. Gen. Adul Boonthamcharoen, Commander of the Second Army Region, addressed the controversy by confirming the establishment of an investigation to look into the deductions reported in the leaked document.

 

He revealed that Col. Achawin Akapin, Commander of the 22nd Transportation and Service Battalion, had been transferred to assist at the Second Army Region headquarters pending the outcome of the investigation.

 

Lt. Gen. Boonthamcharoen stated that while parts of the document were accurate, it was a preliminary proposal and not the finalised expense list. He assured that fees like the septic tank pumping fee should have been excluded from the final deductions.

 

In response to the incident, the army revised the remaining salary for conscripts to 6,170 Baht by abolishing the 990 Baht utility fee. 

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang have both expressed concerns, with the latter emphasizing that any unauthorized deductions should cease, assuring an income of around 10,000 Baht for conscripts. 

 

This investigation aims to restore public confidence and ensure fair treatment for military conscripts across the country.

 

Picture courtesy: Royal Thai Army

 

-- 2024-06-15

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[BritScot]

They just can't help it!!!

[hotchilli]

I wonder what all the Commanders and Generals get?

[dinsdale]

Get conscripted and you have to buy your own gear. I bet this practice is more widespread than this particular unit. Corruption abounds in TIT.

[thesetat2013]

Haha this article actually shows the state of the countries coffers. To be constricted to military service and then have your salary deducted for electric and water and sewage and other necessities needed to live under their rule. 

[ChrisY1]

They would lie to their mothers!

No-one has ever heard of living expenses being deducted from conscripts.....unless of course, it's being shared amongst the high ranks!

Edited June 15 by ChrisY1

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

I wonder what all the Commanders and Generals get?

Oh, that´s easy to calculate. Their much higher salary untouched with no deduction as well as an addon from the deductions of their minions salaries. 😉 
 

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

This investigation aims to restore public confidence and ensure fair treatment for military conscripts across the country.

Darn, this is Thailand! public confidence and fair treatment took the last plane out in 1975.

Edited June 15 by Gottfrid

[cncltd1973]

military car wash and cookie sale coming to your neighborhood soon

[edwinchester]

35 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

They would lie to their mothers!

No-one has ever heard of living expenses being deducted from conscripts.....unless of course, it's being shared amongst the high ranks!

It's being going on for decades how else do you get Generals with a net worth of hundreds of millions of bht?

Another favourite is giving conscripts the option of staying at home but then all of their salary is then passed on up the food chain.

It's no wonder the Armed Services are so loathe to give up such a lucrative money spinner that's conscription.

[Almer]

The PM shows concern, get there sort it out and. Please no moving people sideways, move them out. 

I wonder if the Commander paid his share also. 

[JoePai]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

I wonder what all the Commanders and Generals get?

A bit more perhaps ?

[Tropicalevo]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

details the expense account of new conscripts from a specific military unit. According to the page, various deductions—including a 500 Baht fee for septic tank pumping—result in conscripts receiving less than 5,000 Baht after all deductions.

And now we know why Thailand is determined to keep conscription.

No point in killing the golden goose.

[klauskunkel]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Col. Achawin Akapin, Commander of the 22nd Transportation and Service Battalion, had been transferred to assist at the Second Army Region headquarters

yea, put him to good use over there at the Second Army Region headquarters increasing HQ's total revenue

[brianthainess]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The document outlines an income of 10,990 Baht, with deductions for life insurance, uniforms, training equipment, cleaning supplies, and other expenses, leaving a net remaining amount of 4,710 Baht. The 500 Baht for septic tank pumping attracted particular attention and criticism.

All of these should be paid for by the army, including life insurance, they are the ones putting there life in danger,  "cleaning supplies" are they paying for boot polish and home cleaning for the Generals ? Training equipment, what happened to the last equipment ? Same as Uniforms ? maybe keep the septic tank charge as they are taking the piss big time and get rid of all the other deductions.

I wonder what the internet charge is my internet can have up to 9 users, what next pay for your your bullets, guns, and food.   Disgraceful Military same as the RTP. 

[Hunz Kittisak]

4 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Get conscripted and you have to buy your own gear. I bet this practice is more widespread than this particular unit. Corruption abounds in TIT.

Do they have to pay for own food and board as well? 
This is modern day slavery 

[Hunz Kittisak]

16 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

All of these should be paid for by the army, including life insurance, they are the ones putting there life in danger,  "cleaning supplies" are they paying for boot polish and home cleaning for the Generals ? Training equipment, what happened to the last equipment ? Same as Uniforms ? maybe keep the septic tank charge as they are taking the piss big time and get rid of all the other deductions.

I wonder what the internet charge is my internet can have up to 9 users, what next pay for your your bullets, guns, and food.   Disgraceful Military same as the RTP. 

I’m sure if one digs deeper those companies that supplies the gear and services are helmed by the generals’ cronies and family members 

[brianthainess]

4 minutes ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

I’m sure if one digs deeper those companies that supplies the gear and services are helmed by the generals’ cronies and family members 

Agree sadly no one has the guts to question the army, they only removed the septic charge when they realized it was under investigation, dismissing it as a mistake, the usual misunderstanding BS. The Army investigating the Army.

 

8 hours ago, webfact said:

, it was a preliminary proposal and not the finalised expense list.

So why the reductions in wages if it's not finalized, more to come ?  

[Ralf001]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I wonder what all the Commanders and Generals get?

 

500b from every conscript !

[soalbundy]

4 hours ago, BritScot said:

They just can't help it!!!

gotta pick a pocket or twoooooo.

[Ralf001]

34 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

 

 what next pay for your your bullets, guns, and food.   Disgraceful Military same as the RTP. 

 

Rumour has it the police have to buy their own guns/bullets/uniforms.

 

They all good for food though.... Many fools (road users) cover that with "one the spot" fines !

[john donson]

wait the conscripts get paid? I got nothing in 1992 for my 1 year of forced slave labor

[brianthainess]

4 minutes ago, john donson said:

wait the conscripts get paid? I got nothing in 1992 for my 1 year of forced slave labor

What country was that ? 

[worgeordie]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

attributing the deduction to a mistake.

It's always down to a mistake or misunderstanding when corruption is

brought into the open .....

 

regards worgeordie

[brianthainess]

According to the BP, they are charged I,500 baht for WI-FI fee that is twice what I pay for up to 9 users. I'll take a bet this all goes very quiet soon, in the land of misunderstandings. 

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

According to the BP, they are charged I,500 baht for WI-FI fee that is twice what I pay for up to 9 users. I'll take a bet this all goes very quiet soon, in the land of misunderstandings. 

 

Your wifi has user restrictions ?

[brianthainess]

1 minute ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Your wifi has user restrictions ?

No don't be daft, if they have/given the password and are within the router range, why would it have restrictions ? Do you not understand fiber optic ? 

[Ralf001]

1 minute ago, brianthainess said:

No don't be daft, if they have/given the password and are within the router range, why would it have restrictions ? Do you not understand fiber optic ? 

 

 

whats the deal with the "up to 9 users" you have mentioned on this thread and other ?

[digger70]

9 hours ago, BritScot said:

They just can't help it!!!

Yep ,

They Help themselves to Anything they can that's not too Heavy or Not too Hot to touch.

[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

 

whats the deal with the "up to 9 users" you have mentioned on this thread and other ?

I have already told you, I pay TOT 524.03 baht per month for my fiber optic connection, that allows up to 9 people in range of my router to use it. other deals I do not know, like hotels can have scores of users. Jeez  

[MartinBangkok]

5 hours ago, john donson said:

wait the conscripts get paid? I got nothing in 1992 for my 1 year of forced slave labor

I got paid 57 NOK per day (for 18 months) in my country in 86/87. Equivalent of 160 NOK today, or 550 Baht. All expenses paid, absolutely all exept tobacco/cigarettes and alcohol, which we anyway bought dirt cheap from visiting Nato-forces who were smuggling it in on every single visit,  including british fighter pilots!. We even had free public transport whilst wearing a uniform, including domestic flights!

And we were training, not cooking, gardening, cleaning or picking golf balls from an army driving range! (like the Thai soldiers did where I lived, they were actually promoted to the driving range for impeccable behaviour)

Can you believe Thailand!?

Edited June 15 by MartinBangkok
Addition