BANGKOK, 25 August 2014 – The Comptroller General’s Department (CGD) has expressed readiness to adjust up the salary of civil servants as soon as an instruction is given by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.
Speaking of the wage increase policy for civil servants, CGD Director-General Manas Jamveha insisted that the department is fully prepared to carry out the procedure immediately. However, he said it remains to be concluded by Gen Prayuth, as the incoming Prime Minister, whether the rate of increment will be 8 percent and whether the adjustment will take effect on October 1 this year or April 1 next year.
As the National Legislative Assembly is currently deliberating the 2015 appropriation bill and the allocation for the salary hike has not been settled, Mr Manas pointed out that the budget could come from the state coffers or funds reserved for other purposes. With over 2.7 million civil servants in Thailand, an 8-percent rise in pay would require a budget of about 56 billion baht per year.
Mr Manas affirmed that the wage increase must be considered with utmost caution and must be fair to all, given there are many different types and ranks of civil servants.
