Efficiency rating down
The Nation

Thai bureaucracy's performance worse despite more staff

THE efficiency of the Thai bureaucracy has dropped over the past ten years despite a 50-per cent increase in personnel and a threefold hike in the budget for civil servants' salary and benefits, a study by Thailand Future Foundation (TFF) has found.

The TFF cited a World Bank survey on efficiency of the Thai bureaucracy, showing it has dropped from 65 to 74th in a 196-country ranking. And corruption in the public sector had also got worse - falling from a ranking of 91st to 98th in a survey by the World Economic Forum.

The latter survey also ranked cronyism among Thai bureaucrats in a low position - 93 in a 148-country ranking, down with Malawi and India.

The number of civil servants, state employees and contract workers in total is now at 2.2 million - a 50 per-cent increase from 10 years ago, said the World Bank survey, which was released late last year.

The number of those in the two latter positions has increased six times and their salary base has been heightened to match those offered by private companies.

Regular government spending on these personnel and other benefits including medical bills averages Bt1.1 trillion each year, which accounts for nearly half the government's annual fiscal spending.

Meanwhile, other spending on government personnel is about 7 per cent of gross domestic product, compared to six per cent in Malaysia, five in the Philippines and three in Singapore.

A rise was given to employees of state-enterprise agencies recently, at an average 6.5 per cent, not long after a rise given to civil servants, at an average 4 per cent, with salary base set to be broaden to 4 per cent. These were the sixth rise over the decade.

Foundation executive chairman Sethaput Suthiwart-Narueput said the survey would further highlight the importance of the much-awaited bureaucratic reform and should be made an urgent agenda. "Doing it now will be even better, as 40 per cent of the civil servants will be retiring in the next 15 years," he added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Efficiency-rating-down-30253035.html

-- The Nation 2015-01-31

But 'Happy' rating is much much higher. Let's focus on priorities!

I think they would find a similar drop in efficiency within the private sector in Thailand. Inefficiency seems to be an endemic disease in Thailand.

It was often said that work expands to fill the time allotted to it. Adding more jobs means adding more people-hours, so efficiency will be reduced. It's just one of those inevitable things.

Thai people think if the work force goes up 50% then they only have to do 50% of the work they did before

Yahoo ............. more time for fatassbook

As in most negative, but truthful reports of this type, it will be rejected by those who are the only ones who could effect necessary changes

The devil makes work.

The effecency of the work done in Thailand is very very low! Due to incompetence, bad education, selfish acting, arrogance and and and!

If you see how many people are "working" in restaurants, big shops and in the administration departments, either private or public that makes the very low unemployment rate in Thailand. Otherwise millions and millions of unemployment would be realistic in this country!

"Efficiency rating down"

Was it ever UP?

If it is down, where was it before?

The effecency of the work done in Thailand is very very low! Due to incompetence, bad education, selfish acting, arrogance and and and!

If you see how many people are "working" in restaurants, big shops and in the administration departments, either private or public that makes the very low unemployment rate in Thailand. Otherwise millions and millions of unemployment would be realistic in this country!

Yup and also all the security guards, loads of people who sit on a market all day with a very small stand, parkingassistants, (moto)taxi drivers and so on.

The article seems to mix performance and efficiency at times I think.

Anyway, if I understand correctly with increased workforce the overall performance is lower. Furthermore with lower performance with more people of course the efficiency is lower.

Now one can do some things to improve performance and efficiency. Personally I think taking away mobile phones would already give a major boost. Unfortunately such action may be against Basic Human Rights by now.

threefold hike in the budget for civil servants' salary and benefits, a study by Thailand Future Foundation (TFF) has found.

Blatent populism, off to the Tower forthwith...

so clearly, you can pay them more, but that does not mean they will work more / better

Much of it in Bangkok....the 'elite' in action and little wonder they want to keep their sinecures.

Funny this should be on inefficiency. I am working to turn things around in a Consultancy position I have. It isnt in Thailand but the principle is the same. Things are being turned around thankfully but the fundamental thing in doing so is to understand people.

Without that you wont get the job done

threefold hike in the budget for civil servants' salary and benefits, a study by Thailand Future Foundation (TFF) has found.

Blatent populism, off to the Tower forthwith...

Oh, in TEN years time, with 50% raise in number of civil servants. Oh, and starting salary for bachelor's degree still 2,000 under public sector.

Indeed, heads should roll

I thought the only direction one could move from the bottom was up.