BANGKOK, Nov 18 — The cabinet today increased the cost-of-living allowance for low-ranking government officials to raise their minimum monthly income to at least Bt10,000.
Comptroller-General Manas Jamveha said the rise applied to low-ranking officials including employees and non-permanent staff who finished junior high school and did general administration jobs.
Their monthly wages before the hike ranged from Bt5,000 to 9,000.
As Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha wanted to help them first, the cabinet increased the allowance so that their overall incomes including salaries would reach at least Bt10,000, Mr Manas said.
The rise takes retroactive effect from Oct 1, covers more than 300,000 officials and costs the government Bt1.5 billion a month.
In addition, the cabinet approved a measure to cushion the negative impact of the previous increase in minimum daily wages to Bt300.
Under the resolution, contractors whose work with the government is delayed because of the rising labour cost will not be fined.
