Thai govt considers raising salaries for civil servants

[webfact]

Govt considers raising salaries for civil servants



BANGKOK, 4 December 2015 (NNT) - The Comptroller General's Department (CGD) is considering changing the salary structure for civil servants, in a bid to stem the brain drain of talented personnel from the public sector.

CGD Director-General Manas Jamveha said a committee has been set up to look into the possibility of raising the salaries of public officials. The move was prompted by a a group of 32 government organizations and various associations, which submitted a petition to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.

The Secretary-General of the Civil Service Commission will oversee the consideration process. Civil servants currently receive a 5 - 6% increase in their salaries each year, depending on their level of achievement. However, some public organizations only raise wages every 3 - 4 years.

The committee is expected to consider all factors before endorsing the increase. It will make sure the new structure is in line with the current economy and keeps smart, talented personnel from leaving the public sector.

The CGD chief argued that nobody wants to be a civil servant if the salary is too low.


-- NNT 2016-01-04

[Artisi]

Smart talented people should be well rewarded, as for the others - that's a different and difficult story.

[cockatoowho]

The fat cats are to become fatter, I imagine it has very little to do with talent but more to do with buying loyalty.

[toybits]

Rice farmers, Rubber producers, the Fisheries sector, the exporters and cab drivers and the 99.3% are ALL going to be very happy to hear this. Bravo!

[BudRight]

This is a great idea, provided it is accompanied by other important changes such as;

1. Reducing the number of time consuming, menial or pointless tasks that they are obliged to perform.

2. Reducing the number of civil servants.

3. Eliminating the "pay for promotion" system that encourages them to milk their authority for kickbacks.

[jacky54]

Many paid for the jobs in the first place, why reward them further? Going rate for passing the teaching exam to be out at the top of the list for jobs used to be 200k, SIL took Police entrance exam and was told the pass mark was 400k. I'm sure this no longer goes on of course!

[trainman34014]

Many of them are walking around with one piece of paper all day or constantly attending useless and pointless meetings or banal white uniform gatherings instead of actually 'working'. Others; like Nurses, are understaffed and overworked on poor salaries whilst the admin' staff supposedly 'backing them' sit around playing with phones all day.

At least 30% of Civil Servants in Thailand are a waste of space; remove the waste and reward those who are valid members of a working society.

All very obvious to anyone at the highest level with a functioning brain !

[Prbkk]

I hope someone is looking at the income side of the ledger . Spending like drunken sailors and who is gonna pay in the long run? The next election might be a good one to lose as the bills come in and the balance sheet is tallied

[Reigntax]

Popularist policies for the civil servants. Thailand, the hub of civil self servants

[waldroj]

The big, big problem for Thailand - too many civil servants and far too many police!

Just like THAI Airways, what's needed is drastic reform and (unfortunately) widespread cuts to staff numbers (based on performance and ability).

Those that survive can then be paid according to their performance. As for those that don't make the cut - alas, I don't have a solution.

As for keeping talent in the PS, that's almost impossible within the salary constraints (especially when the private sector is willing to pay extra for that talent).

[Chang_paarp]

This will help those planning to go negotiate a bigger and better package in their next venture.

[Briggsy]

Expect more indirect taxation.

Excise duty and VAT (Do you realise the range of goods covered by excise duty?)

Stamp duty (Property and vehicle transfers)

Visa fees

Expect more inflation which may not be reflected in national statistics.

[soalbundy]

This is to counteract the fall in tea money as we all know that the general is successful in his fight against corruption

[tbthailand]

Junta styled vote-buying ...

They're getting ready for that referendum...

[pookiki]

They get a 6% pay raise every year?? No cap? And stats to support the 'brain drain'? If such a pay scheme was used in the private sector, the howls and screams would never stop!

[bark]

They get a 6% pay raise every year?? No cap? And stats to support the 'brain drain'? If such a pay scheme was used in the private sector, the howls and screams would never stop!

Yep, the private sector is lucky to pay their staff every 1 st of the month. 6 % every year. No way !

[oneday]

"...Govt considers raising salaries for civil servants..."

Why? Don't most government workers get their money from downward distribution of graft, most specifically police. If every government worker lived by their wages alone they certainly wouldn't be considered rich and be able to buy Fortuners; yet many government workers have nice cars and homes; partly due to the low interest loans they are able to get.

So I say again, why do they need a salary increase? Just about all government workers are doing just fine. How about figuring out ways to help the poor people, specially farmers improve their lot in life...Micro Loans, low or no interest development loans, free education and assistance to help improve their crops and better utilize their land. How about helping to organize co-ops so groups of farmers can pool their resources to help each other.

[fred Kubasa]

By all means so those poor wretched devils can climb out of their poverty level lifestyle.

They should also add another 6 or 8 paid holidays, increase pensions/benefits and release a few

politicians from prison in time for the 2017/18/19 election. This may piss off some of those

1,600 Generals so throw them and the " Submariners " a bone as well !

Meanwhile back at "Reality Ranch " Ma and Pa Thai are scouring around for tomorrows food !

[Briggsy]

They get a 6% pay raise every year?? No cap? And stats to support the 'brain drain'? If such a pay scheme was used in the private sector, the howls and screams would never stop!

Yes, like many things here, logic seems to be suppressed by the hierarchical structure.

In many organisations here, the annual pay rise is determined by two coefficients. The first is a cost of living rise. This might be factored in at 2%, say. The second is a "performance" grade. It is primarily based on how pleased your manager is with you but also often contains highly quantifiable aspects, such as the number of sick days over a specified limit and the number of times late over a specified limit.

The result is somebody who gets an "A" grade may get 2% + 4% = 6% rise. Somebody who is often late and not in the boss' good books may get 2% - 2% = 0%. These pay rises are independent of any promotion. These are referring to staff staying in the same position.

The result of all this is that staff in their 50's may receive 3 or 4 times what their colleagues in their 20's receive despite doing very similar duties. The pay scales are effectively favourably skewed towards older staff when compared with, say, developed economies.

[greenchair]

Didn't they just recently get a raise after the protests that they supported. And now another one, just when that constitution is coming up for the vote.

Silly me and my suspicious mind.

Of course they should be well paid for serving the public.

[pookiki]

They get a 6% pay raise every year?? No cap? And stats to support the 'brain drain'? If such a pay scheme was used in the private sector, the howls and screams would never stop!

Yes, like many things here, logic seems to be suppressed by the hierarchical structure.

In many organisations here, the annual pay rise is determined by two coefficients. The first is a cost of living rise. This might be factored in at 2%, say. The second is a "performance" grade. It is primarily based on how pleased your manager is with you but also often contains highly quantifiable aspects, such as the number of sick days over a specified limit and the number of times late over a specified limit.

The result is somebody who gets an "A" grade may get 2% + 4% = 6% rise. Somebody who is often late and not in the boss' good books may get 2% - 2% = 0%. These pay rises are independent of any promotion. These are referring to staff staying in the same position.

The result of all this is that staff in their 50's may receive 3 or 4 times what their colleagues in their 20's receive despite doing very similar duties. The pay scales are effectively favourably skewed towards older staff when compared with, say, developed economies.

I'm certainly more familiar with private sector than government and non-profits (NGOs). I know in many NGOs, yearly increases can go on ad infinitum with no cap. Absolutely irrational. Salary schedules need to be rationally implemented that take into consideration seniority and responsibilities - and that are capped. Many employees in the private sector receive bonuses in lieu of annual increases and the bonus system is usually linked to a formula that addresses the company's profits. I am also familiar with fines levied against employees who exceed 'x' number of tardies in a year. The fine can be very excessive depending on the number of tardies. The fines also apply to excessive absenteeism even though the Thai Labour Code specifies the number of sick days an employee is entitled to as well as other paid time off. Such policies have a disparate impact on women who juggle responsibilities with their children and job and absences due to pregnancy.

Sooner or later, the younger workers in the civil service will wake up to the concept of 'equal pay for equal work' and the whole system is going to get turned on its head. And it should!

[farangmick]

Brain drain of talented personnel? I thought Civil Service jobs were reserved for Thais.

[elgordo38]

The fat cats are to become fatter, I imagine it has very little to do with talent but more to do with buying loyalty.

But But he said it was to stop the draining of the brain.

[elgordo38]

Many paid for the jobs in the first place, why reward them further? Going rate for passing the teaching exam to be out at the top of the list for jobs used to be 200k, SIL took Police entrance exam and was told the pass mark was 400k. I'm sure this no longer goes on of course!

390K would constitute a fail then or a near pass or a down payment? Or a wink wink pass or a teachers degree with a 190K refund.

[elgordo38]

"...Govt considers raising salaries for civil servants..."

Why? Don't most government workers get their money from downward distribution of graft, most specifically police. If every government worker lived by their wages alone they certainly wouldn't be considered rich and be able to buy Fortuners; yet many government workers have nice cars and homes; partly due to the low interest loans they are able to get.

So I say again, why do they need a salary increase? Just about all government workers are doing just fine. How about figuring out ways to help the poor people, specially farmers improve their lot in life...Micro Loans, low or no interest development loans, free education and assistance to help improve their crops and better utilize their land. How about helping to organize co-ops so groups of farmers can pool their resources to help each other.

Always protect and nourish your power base. First rule of juntaing.

[Manu75]

Junta styled vote-buying ...

They're getting ready for that referendum...

Stupid comment, you've got evidence of your talk ?

[Redline]

Stem what???? Stem cells?

[halloween]

Junta styled vote-buying ...

They're getting ready for that referendum...

But don't they take the money and vote however they wish?

[tbthailand]

Junta styled vote-buying ...

They're getting ready for that referendum...

Stupid comment, you've got evidence of your talk ?

one, I have a brain, two, civil servants are a key constituency which originally supported the coup, three, multiple observers of Thai politics are drawing the same conclusion...

But thank you for pointing out that you've not been paying attention to current events...

[oneday]

"...Govt considers raising salaries for civil servants..."

Why? Don't most government workers get their money from downward distribution of graft, most specifically police. If every government worker lived by their wages alone they certainly wouldn't be considered rich and be able to buy Fortuners; yet many government workers have nice cars and homes; partly due to the low interest loans they are able to get.

So I say again, why do they need a salary increase? Just about all government workers are doing just fine. How about figuring out ways to help the poor people, specially farmers improve their lot in life...Micro Loans, low or no interest development loans, free education and assistance to help improve their crops and better utilize their land. How about helping to organize co-ops so groups of farmers can pool their resources to help each other.

Always protect and nourish your power base. First rule of juntaing.

555...most assuredly correct. Essentially, they are doing almost all the things they accused Pheu Thai of doing.

Nobody wants reconciliation and I believe it's due to class divisions. The rich feel entitled and the poor feel oppressed. Nothing will change for many, many years to come.