Thai Senators Oppose Pay Hikes

[webfact]

WAGES DEBATE

Senators oppose pay hikes for fellow

By The Nation

Govt claims it's time to close disparity between public servants' earnings and incomes of the private sector

A group of 40 senators yesterday voiced opposition to a pay hike for lawmakers on the grounds it would conflict with the feelings of the have-nots, the majority in society.

Speaking for the group, Senator Rosana Tositrakul said she disagreed with the national wage committee's recommendation for an across-the-board raise for civil servants, office holders in independent agencies, MPs and senators.

She said she particularly objected to giving a raise to political office holders.

"I don't think the majority of people could stand the pay hike when they frequently witness the collapse of House meetings due to lack of a quorum," she said.

Any attempts to push for a raise should factor in performance evaluations, she said, calling for adjusting the salary of MPs in accordance with their attendance records. She said certain lawmakers never bothered to attend meetings although they claimed to have reported for work.

Lawmakers are already among upper income earners, each getting Bt60,000 per month plus an allowance of Bt40,000, she said.

She said the government should pay more attention to workers and low-income earners. In the past 10 years, the Thai gross domestic product increased about 48 per cent but wages for workers rose only two per cent.

She voiced suspicion the government wanted to time the pay hike to coincide with the upcoming general election.

Senator Ruangkrai Leekitwattana opposed Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's proposal to increase salaries for heads of the three branches, including MPs and Senators, dismissing claims they should get the salary base adjustment since other government officials had already received a pay hike.

Ruangkrai said salary increases may not benefit officials if the increase led them to pay higher income taxes. "I earn a salary of Bt104,000 before tax and Bt80,000 after tax, about Bt3,000 a day which is enough. It is not fair for politicians to cite their so-called social tax as a reason for a salary increase,'' he said.

Meanwhile the Opposition Pheu Thai Party opposed Abhisit's move saying the salary increase for government officials would be a heavy burden on the country's coffers because of the gloomy economic prospects.

"Another 200,000 new graduates will enter the job market and the government will increase VAT and the country is saddled with Bt2 trillion,'' Pheu Thai Party deputy leader Wicharn Meenchainant said.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit attacked the government's move to increase salaries for government officials as nothing short of hypocritical. He said the Democrat Party attacked the Thaksin government's populist policies but also copied them.

Abhisit denied his salary increase proposal aimed to benefit politicians. He said the adjustment was systematically spread over the entire sector and the salary increase of politicians, if approved, would be effective after the general election.

Democrat MP Thepthai Senpong said the proposed pay hike was justified. The prime minister's pay is much lower than that for a state enterprise director.

"I think it is time to close the disparity between the earnings for public servants and income in the private sector," Thepthai said.

-- The Nation 2010-12-13

[Bagwan]

I cannot believe that I am reading this. One small step towards a fairer society? 

[hammered]

Make parliamentarians pay linked to actually attending house meetings and actually voting would be a good start.

Whoever is in opposition never likes government officials getting pay raises as many up country ones double as canvassers. All governments give these dudes pay raises.

[chainarong]

Time for something, can't see past giving the worker a far go myself , they need a wages tribunal , with a truck driver , rice farmer and a railway worker on the panel of five, then lets see what happens. Now i'd like to see that.

[asiawatcher]

I would lock salaries of politicians geared to no more than say 5 times National Average. Then they will work for the people and this is a rule of thumb for middle SME's when financing. Most have other 'business' interests and subsidise income so the payment as a politician as said here even at 104,000 is not inclusive of perks. ravel. phone subsidies and all the costs associated with being a politician. But isn't it nice to see some sensibilities in the game - if only it can last!

[webfact]

PM: Salary Raise for Parliamentarians Necessary

The prime minister says a salary increase for members of Parliament is necessary, despite opposition from the public who believes that most lawmakers do a poor job and should not be entitled to a pay hike.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva denied that the proposed salary increase for Parliamentarians is aimed at benefiting any particular group of politicians, as the government earlier approved pay raises for members of the executive and judiciary branches.

In addition, he explained that many MPs and senators have demanded their welfare benefits to be equal to those of civil servants.

The premier said the new salary rates would apply to the next office term, downplaying claims that the government is raising its own pay.

In response to criticism that many House members do not work in proportion to what they are paid, Abhisit said it is hard to varify such claims since there are also many M.P.s who have done more than they are expected to do.

He added that the public should choose not to vote for politicians whom thay believe are under performers, in the next election.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said he is unsure whether the Cabinet will come to a conclusion on the matter at the meeting.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-13

[Thailand]

The ones who are not satisfied with their heady incomes could always resign and make room for those who might do a better job.

I am sure there cannot be many, if any, politicians who are not reaping the rewards of other substantial incomes on top of their salary + expenses.

[doggie888888]

I am surprised how low their salaries are. How about doubling their salaries and in return they pass a law that any MP/Senator convicted of corruption is automatically subjected to a mandatory death sentence?

[richard_smith237]

This article is one sided... The minimum wage was also increased (within the last couple of weeks).

Perhaps these increases are simply following inflation.

[Cnxforever]

"She voiced suspicion the government wanted to time the pay hike to coincide with the upcoming general election."

yes its also called "vote buying"

[whybother]

"She voiced suspicion the government wanted to time the pay hike to coincide with the upcoming general election."

yes its also called "vote buying"

How is it vote buying?

It makes sense to raise any salaries at the same time as an election. All the politicians are effectively starting a new job with a new salary.

I'm not saying I agree or disagree with the raise, but the timing makes sense.

[Berek]

An Australian backbencher gets 5 million baht a year (including allowances). And they're probably not much better at the job