Govt To Raise Salaries To Low-ranked Officials

Govt to raise salaries to low-ranked officials

BANGKOK: -- The government will soon raise salaries for low-ranked officials whose payrolls are now lower than Bt10,000 a month, according to the Deputy Finance Minister, Varathep Ratanakorn.

Mr. Varathep told journalists here on Friday that the junior officials, as well as the government's permanent and temporary employers, would have their salaries increased by 3%, the same rate of other civil servants whose salaries were increased in April.

"It is expected that the new salaries for the junior officials will be increased as of 1 October, the beginning of the government's 2005 fiscal year", he said.

"This is to help them cope with rising costs of living", he noted.

The move is also to mark the second anniversary of the government's bureaucratic reform on 3 October, according to the deputy finance minister.

However, details of the new move, including a total budget involved, would be announced later, he disclosed.

Asked whether the government would further raise salaries for civil servants whose salaries are over Bt10,000 a month, the deputy finance minister said this would be up to the government's policy, which could not be announced at the moment.

--TNA 2004-08-21