Thai Govt Increases State Officials' Allowance

[webfact]

Govt increases state officials' allowance

By Wichit Chaitrong,

Piyanart Sivalo

The Nation

Hike in stipend seen as a time-buying technique by Yingluck administration

The Cabinet yesterday approved increased monthly cost-of-living allowances for civil servants and state employees - a time-buying tactic designed to cushion pressure mounting over an election pledge to raise the starting salary of civil servants holding bachelor's degrees to Bt15,000.

The Cabinet assigned the Finance Ministry to study a new salary structure for state officials, but that is considered a long-term plan unlikely to be implemented any time soon.

The Cabinet approved a Finance Ministry proposal to increase the stipend for new graduates holding bachelor's degrees in order to increase their monthly income to Bt15,000, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Anutama Amornvivatanutama.

Unlike increasing the starting salary to Bt15,000, which will require legislative action, increasing the stipend needs only changes to the Finance Ministry's regulations.

Raising the stipend will still require adjustments, albeit minor, to the incomes of other civil servants now getting paid more than Bt15,000 a month. A study on how the higher-paid employees will be paid should be completed before the end of this year.

Those who do not hold bachelor's degree will get at least Bt300 a day or, Bt9,000 a month, Anutama said.

The stipend scheme will cover civil servants, state employees and soldiers, covering 649,923 people. Although the increase will not count legally as the new starting salary pledged by the Pheu Thai Party during the election campaign, it may ease pressure piling up on the government over its election promises.

The stipend scheme is part of the government's efforts to boost the economy by increasing people's purchasing power, Anutama said.

The pay hike will take effect in January next year and will cost the government Bt18.86 billion in the first year.

The Cabinet assigned Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong and the Finance Ministry to study an overhaul of the civil-service salary structure, Anutama said, because the government needs to amend the law to increase salaries for everyone.

In a related development, Public Debt Management Office director-general Chakkrit Parapuntakul said yesterday that public debt had increased in July, mainly because the government had borrowed to finance the budget deficit.

Public debt at the end of July was Bt4.3 trillion, equivalent to 40.57 per cent of gross domestic product. The figure rose by Bt16.46 billion from the month before, he said.

Critics blame the government's populist policies for the spiralling public debt, including the wage hike and the first-car buyer and first-home-buyer schemes, tax cuts for which will lead to higher public debt. The critics say fiscal sustainability is under threat, amid the sovereign-debt crises in Europe and the United States.

-- The Nation 2011-09-21

[siampolee]

Presumably this stipend hike will include people like the road sweepers, office cleaners lowly clerks as well as it cost them the same for a kilo of rice as it does the , ''elite'" state officials. .

Oooh , " sorry I forgot that the P.T.P. ( Personal Thaksin Property) are anti elite aren't they ?

Public debt at the end of July was Bt4.3 trillion, equivalent to 40.57 per cent of gross domestic product. The figure rose by Bt16.46 billion from the month before, he said.

Critics blame the government's populist policies for the spiralling public debt, including the wage hike and the first-car buyer and first-home-buyer schemes, tax cuts for which will lead to higher public debt. The critics say fiscal sustainability is under threat, amid the sovereign-debt crises in Europe and the United States.

Take note. "The financial storm cones are already being hoisted."

[ginjag]

Presumably this stipend hike will include people like the road sweepers, office cleaners lowly clerks as well as it cost them the same for a kilo of rice as it does the , ''elite'" state officials. .

Oooh , " sorry I forgot that the P.T.P. ( Personal Thaksin Property) are anti elite aren't they ?

Public debt at the end of July was Bt4.3 trillion, equivalent to 40.57 per cent of gross domestic product. The figure rose by Bt16.46 billion from the month before, he said.

Critics blame the government's populist policies for the spiralling public debt, including the wage hike and the first-car buyer and first-home-buyer schemes, tax cuts for which will lead to higher public debt. The critics say fiscal sustainability is under threat, amid the sovereign-debt crises in Europe and the United States.

Take note. "The financial storm cones are already being hoisted."

So we can take it that the public debt from them coming to power has say averaged 16 billion for each month, approx. so by the end of this month up 80 billion......keep it up and you will be bankrupt......then OUT THE DOOR

[Crushdepth]

This government has got 'debt crisis' written all over it.

[Buchholz]

The Cabinet approved a Finance Ministry proposal to increase the stipend for new graduates holding bachelor's degrees in order to increase their monthly income to Bt15,000, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Anutama Amornvivatanutama.

Unlike increasing the starting salary to Bt15,000, which will require legislative action, increasing the stipend needs only changes to the Finance Ministry's regulations.

An astoundingly laughable situation.

Currently the stipend that starting civil servants receive is 1,500 a month and the salary is 8,700 baht. Now the government wants to bump that 1,500 up to where stipend plus salary equals 15,000 (more than a 50% jump of current rates of total incomes).

And do this with a bookkeeping end round. Whether it's a stipend or a salary, it all comes from the Treasury. There's a reason that salaries require Parliamentary approval for changes. It's a big thing and not to be taken lightly. They get around this by not raising salaries but stipends... to the point where the stipend nearly equals salary.

The BS Meter is pegging out.

.

Edited September 21, 2011 by Buchholz

[hammered]

The Cabinet approved a Finance Ministry proposal to increase the stipend for new graduates holding bachelor's degrees in order to increase their monthly income to Bt15,000, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Anutama Amornvivatanutama.

Unlike increasing the starting salary to Bt15,000, which will require legislative action, increasing the stipend needs only changes to the Finance Ministry's regulations.

An astoundingly laughable situation.

Currently the stipend that starting civil servants receive is 1,500 a month and the salary is 8,700 baht. Now the government wants to bump that 1,500 up to where stipend plus salary equals 15,000 (more than a 50% jump of current rates of total incomes).

And do this with a bookkeeping end round. Whether it's a stipend or a salary, it all comes from the Treasury. There's a reason that salaries require Parliamentary approval for changes. It's a big thing and not to be taken lightly. They get around this by not raising salaries but stipends... to the point where the stipend nearly equals salary.

The BS Meter is pegging out.

.

The people that get it in their pocket though dont really care what it is called. I would guess this group of lowly young civil servants will remember come future elections. It will be similar to the first time house and car buyers. Now on to what happens with 300 baht per day, rice crops schemes, village funds.

Interesting that PTP are targeting groups that are seen as traditional Dem voters in these schemes too. The Dems tried that with PTP voters in the last government but failed. It will be interesting to see if PTP fare better in winning over Dem voters come next election with their schemes aimed at some of that group.

[Buchholz]

The Cabinet approved a Finance Ministry proposal to increase the stipend for new graduates holding bachelor's degrees in order to increase their monthly income to Bt15,000, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Anutama Amornvivatanutama.

Unlike increasing the starting salary to Bt15,000, which will require legislative action, increasing the stipend needs only changes to the Finance Ministry's regulations.

An astoundingly laughable situation.

Currently the stipend that starting civil servants receive is 1,500 a month and the salary is 8,700 baht. Now the government wants to bump that 1,500 up to where stipend plus salary equals 15,000 (more than a 50% jump of current rates of total incomes).

And do this with a bookkeeping end round. Whether it's a stipend or a salary, it all comes from the Treasury. There's a reason that salaries require Parliamentary approval for changes. It's a big thing and not to be taken lightly. They get around this by not raising salaries but stipends... to the point where the stipend nearly equals salary.

The BS Meter is pegging out.

.

The people that get it in their pocket though dont really care what it is called. I would guess this group of lowly young civil servants will remember come future elections. It will be similar to the first time house and car buyers. Now on to what happens with 300 baht per day, rice crops schemes, village funds.

Interesting that PTP are targeting groups that are seen as traditional Dem voters in these schemes too. The Dems tried that with PTP voters in the last government but failed. It will be interesting to see if PTP fare better in winning over Dem voters come next election with their schemes aimed at some of that group.

For sure, by all means jack up everyone's income from the Treasury by huge percentages (60%), force employers to jack up their daily wages (40%). You'll have their votes as long as the Ponzi scheme is still working. Not so sure, when unemployment, inflation, and governmental debt all collapse the house of cards this government is building.

.

[hammered]

The Cabinet approved a Finance Ministry proposal to increase the stipend for new graduates holding bachelor's degrees in order to increase their monthly income to Bt15,000, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Anutama Amornvivatanutama.

Unlike increasing the starting salary to Bt15,000, which will require legislative action, increasing the stipend needs only changes to the Finance Ministry's regulations.

An astoundingly laughable situation.

Currently the stipend that starting civil servants receive is 1,500 a month and the salary is 8,700 baht. Now the government wants to bump that 1,500 up to where stipend plus salary equals 15,000 (more than a 50% jump of current rates of total incomes).

And do this with a bookkeeping end round. Whether it's a stipend or a salary, it all comes from the Treasury. There's a reason that salaries require Parliamentary approval for changes. It's a big thing and not to be taken lightly. They get around this by not raising salaries but stipends... to the point where the stipend nearly equals salary.

The BS Meter is pegging out.

.

The people that get it in their pocket though dont really care what it is called. I would guess this group of lowly young civil servants will remember come future elections. It will be similar to the first time house and car buyers. Now on to what happens with 300 baht per day, rice crops schemes, village funds.

Interesting that PTP are targeting groups that are seen as traditional Dem voters in these schemes too. The Dems tried that with PTP voters in the last government but failed. It will be interesting to see if PTP fare better in winning over Dem voters come next election with their schemes aimed at some of that group.

For sure, by all means jack up everyone's income from the Treasury by huge percentages (60%), force employers to jack up their daily wages (40%). You'll have their votes as long as the Ponzi scheme is still working. Not so sure, when unemployment, inflation, and governmental debt all collapse the house of cards this government is building.

.

In that way Thailand is following the world where winning elections trumps doing the right thing. The costing of it is the critical aspect especially in the tax collection arena and not helped by the huge debt financed populist policies of the previous government, which interestingly failed to deliver any votes.

Of course most recognize that when increased expenditure is wanted either tax breaks or wage hikes for those on lower incomes are the areas to target as they are more likely to spend it, which increases both sales tax revenue and stimulates economy. At least to date the groups at the top who are less likely to spend are not being given the breaks beyond a corporate tax break set to alleviate increased labour costs. It seems increased taxation and a stimulated local economy are the ways cost burdens are to be targetted although whether successful remains to be seen. Of course there are also many areas where taxation can be increased or introduced on the wealthy too (inheritance tax and unused land tax spring to mind) so there is room for manouver

[OzMick]

The Cabinet approved a Finance Ministry proposal to increase the stipend for new graduates holding bachelor's degrees in order to increase their monthly income to Bt15,000, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Anutama Amornvivatanutama.

Unlike increasing the starting salary to Bt15,000, which will require legislative action, increasing the stipend needs only changes to the Finance Ministry's regulations.

An astoundingly laughable situation.

Currently the stipend that starting civil servants receive is 1,500 a month and the salary is 8,700 baht. Now the government wants to bump that 1,500 up to where stipend plus salary equals 15,000 (more than a 50% jump of current rates of total incomes).

And do this with a bookkeeping end round. Whether it's a stipend or a salary, it all comes from the Treasury. There's a reason that salaries require Parliamentary approval for changes. It's a big thing and not to be taken lightly. They get around this by not raising salaries but stipends... to the point where the stipend nearly equals salary.

The BS Meter is pegging out.

.

The people that get it in their pocket though dont really care what it is called. I would guess this group of lowly young civil servants will remember come future elections. It will be similar to the first time house and car buyers. Now on to what happens with 300 baht per day, rice crops schemes, village funds.

Interesting that PTP are targeting groups that are seen as traditional Dem voters in these schemes too. The Dems tried that with PTP voters in the last government but failed. It will be interesting to see if PTP fare better in winning over Dem voters come next election with their schemes aimed at some of that group.

Well that fine and dandy while the money lasts. And half their little vote-buyers havn't even started paying out yet, so how long will it be?

Next election, after they have proved themselves insufficiently competent to run a 2-hole outhouse, the foreign reserves are all gone, public debt has maxxed out, what do they do?

Of course, they lie, again.

Do you think PS will bite on B20,000/m when they are facing massive cutbacks? Will labourers go for B500/day when they are out of work? And where are those bloody tablets?

[Buchholz]

An astoundingly laughable situation.

Currently the stipend that starting civil servants receive is 1,500 a month and the salary is 8,700 baht. Now the government wants to bump that 1,500 up to where stipend plus salary equals 15,000 (more than a 50% jump of current rates of total incomes).

And do this with a bookkeeping end round. Whether it's a stipend or a salary, it all comes from the Treasury. There's a reason that salaries require Parliamentary approval for changes. It's a big thing and not to be taken lightly. They get around this by not raising salaries but stipends... to the point where the stipend nearly equals salary.

The BS Meter is pegging out.

.

The people that get it in their pocket though dont really care what it is called. I would guess this group of lowly young civil servants will remember come future elections. It will be similar to the first time house and car buyers. Now on to what happens with 300 baht per day, rice crops schemes, village funds.

Interesting that PTP are targeting groups that are seen as traditional Dem voters in these schemes too. The Dems tried that with PTP voters in the last government but failed. It will be interesting to see if PTP fare better in winning over Dem voters come next election with their schemes aimed at some of that group.

For sure, by all means jack up everyone's income from the Treasury by huge percentages (60%), force employers to jack up their daily wages (40%). You'll have their votes as long as the Ponzi scheme is still working. Not so sure, when unemployment, inflation, and governmental debt all collapse the house of cards this government is building.

.

In that way Thailand is following the world where winning elections trumps doing the right thing. The costing of it is the critical aspect especially in the tax collection arena and not helped by the huge debt financed populist policies of the previous government, which interestingly failed to deliver any votes.

Of course most recognize that when increased expenditure is wanted either tax breaks or wage hikes for those on lower incomes are the areas to target as they are more likely to spend it, which increases both sales tax revenue and stimulates economy. At least to date the groups at the top who are less likely to spend are not being given the breaks beyond a corporate tax break set to alleviate increased labour costs. It seems increased taxation and a stimulated local economy are the ways cost burdens are to be targetted although whether successful remains to be seen. Of course there are also many areas where taxation can be increased or introduced on the wealthy too (inheritance tax and unused land tax spring to mind) so there is room for manouver

Whatever debt left by populist policies is going to pale in comparison to what the future holds. In typical PTP fashion, whatever populist form the Dems initiated while in office or proposed in their campaign, the PTP was right there doubling it, tripling it, or some other absurd promise of a populist program the Dems didn't have. That's what cost the Dems the election in terms of financial gains of the populace.

My hope is that with PTP taking the election promising to insane, unprecedented heights this last go round, it will initiate action on the pre-existing law against empty election promising so that in the next election, more realistic policies are established, democracy is enhanced, and the betterment of the country is the focus. Admittedly, it's a faint hope, but more seemingly impossible hopes have actually come to pass, so who knows.

[Buchholz]

And where are those bloody tablets?

there's a prototype over here:

[OzMick]

For sure, by all means jack up everyone's income from the Treasury by huge percentages (60%), force employers to jack up their daily wages (40%). You'll have their votes as long as the Ponzi scheme is still working. Not so sure, when unemployment, inflation, and governmental debt all collapse the house of cards this government is building.

.

In that way Thailand is following the world where winning elections trumps doing the right thing. The costing of it is the critical aspect especially in the tax collection arena and not helped by the huge debt financed populist policies of the previous government, which interestingly failed to deliver any votes.

Of course most recognize that when increased expenditure is wanted either tax breaks or wage hikes for those on lower incomes are the areas to target as they are more likely to spend it, which increases both sales tax revenue and stimulates economy. At least to date the groups at the top who are less likely to spend are not being given the breaks beyond a corporate tax break set to alleviate increased labour costs. It seems increased taxation and a stimulated local economy are the ways cost burdens are to be targetted although whether successful remains to be seen. Of course there are also many areas where taxation can be increased or introduced on the wealthy too (inheritance tax and unused land tax spring to mind) so there is room for manouver

You refer to "the huge debt financed populist policies of the previous government" which by any measure are far less than that of the current. I'm not sure I agree with their rice subsidy, but at least the amount was much smaller and it was accurately targetted so that the payment went to the farmer.

2 others, the subsidising of textbooks and uniforms, and the small payment to the elderly seem to be at least a start to reducing social inequality, PTP's stated goal. Encouraging longer education I view as a particularly good idea, a pity it is being robbed of funds to pay for the ephemeral tablets.

So which of the "huge" populist policies did you dislike? And what adjective have you reserved for the current policies? Did you forget that premium unleaded has just fallen by B9/l?

Are land and inheritance taxes stated PTP policy?

[backtonormal]

This government has got 'debt crisis' written all over it.

This government is already in the process of securing the next election. Pay hikes for people who traditionally believe they have to vote Dem is one hell of a vote winner. Dont you think so?

[ginjag]

This government has got 'debt crisis' written all over it.

This government is already in the process of securing the next election. Pay hikes for people who traditionally believe they have to vote Dem is one hell of a vote winner. Dont you think so?

SECURE it when it's bankrupt..............if they don't pay what they pledged there will be riots from their own followers, that will be a vote winner alright.

[lannarebirth]

An astoundingly laughable situation.

Currently the stipend that starting civil servants receive is 1,500 a month and the salary is 8,700 baht. Now the government wants to bump that 1,500 up to where stipend plus salary equals 15,000 (more than a 50% jump of current rates of total incomes).

And do this with a bookkeeping end round. Whether it's a stipend or a salary, it all comes from the Treasury. There's a reason that salaries require Parliamentary approval for changes. It's a big thing and not to be taken lightly. They get around this by not raising salaries but stipends... to the point where the stipend nearly equals salary.

The BS Meter is pegging out.

.

The people that get it in their pocket though dont really care what it is called. I would guess this group of lowly young civil servants will remember come future elections. It will be similar to the first time house and car buyers. Now on to what happens with 300 baht per day, rice crops schemes, village funds.

Interesting that PTP are targeting groups that are seen as traditional Dem voters in these schemes too. The Dems tried that with PTP voters in the last government but failed. It will be interesting to see if PTP fare better in winning over Dem voters come next election with their schemes aimed at some of that group.

For sure, by all means jack up everyone's income from the Treasury by huge percentages (60%), force employers to jack up their daily wages (40%). You'll have their votes as long as the Ponzi scheme is still working. Not so sure, when unemployment, inflation, and governmental debt all collapse the house of cards this government is building.

.

In that way Thailand is following the world where winning elections trumps doing the right thing. The costing of it is the critical aspect especially in the tax collection arena and not helped by the huge debt financed populist policies of the previous government, which interestingly failed to deliver any votes.

Of course most recognize that when increased expenditure is wanted either tax breaks or wage hikes for those on lower incomes are the areas to target as they are more likely to spend it, which increases both sales tax revenue and stimulates economy. At least to date the groups at the top who are less likely to spend are not being given the breaks beyond a corporate tax break set to alleviate increased labour costs. It seems increased taxation and a stimulated local economy are the ways cost burdens are to be targetted although whether successful remains to be seen. Of course there are also many areas where taxation can be increased or introduced on the wealthy too (inheritance tax and unused land tax spring to mind) so there is room for manouver

More analysis of process over substance. Totally meaningless IMO. Ignored, finally.

I guess you consider yourself some kind of political maven, but you seem to forget that are real people at the end of all these political lies.

[lannarebirth]

This government has got 'debt crisis' written all over it.

This government is already in the process of securing the next election. Pay hikes for people who traditionally believe they have to vote Dem is one hell of a vote winner. Dont you think so?

This is my idiot clearing day. Ignored!

[TAWP]

This is your and my taxes paying for this.

The Thaksinistas don't pay taxes.

[who]

.

---- Don't have your money in Thai Baht. Hyper-inflation is right around the corner ----

.

[who]

Presumably this stipend hike will include people like the road sweepers, office cleaners lowly clerks as well as it cost them the same for a kilo of rice as it does the , ''elite'" state officials. .

Oooh , " sorry I forgot that the P.T.P. ( Personal Thaksin Property) are anti elite aren't they ?

Public debt at the end of July was Bt4.3 trillion, equivalent to 40.57 per cent of gross domestic product. The figure rose by Bt16.46 billion from the month before, he said.

Critics blame the government's populist policies for the spiralling public debt, including the wage hike and the first-car buyer and first-home-buyer schemes, tax cuts for which will lead to higher public debt. The critics say fiscal sustainability is under threat, amid the sovereign-debt crises in Europe and the United States.

Take note. "The financial storm cones are already being hoisted."

.

---- Don't have your money in Thai Baht. Hyper-inflation is right around the corner ----

.

.