Health Ministry employees issued guideline on New Year gifts
In a bid to curtail corruption, the Public Health Ministry has asked its officials at all levels to refrain from giving New Year gifts to their superiors.
Instead, it said, they should offer their best wishes through personal greeting cards, on the social media or in a group or departmental book everyone can sign.
The announcement, signed on November 23 by Minister Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, was announced within the ministry for implementation this week, a source at the ministry said.
The announcement said the tradition of lower-ranking officials buying gifts for seniors could foster corruption in the civil service.
It cited a January 7, 1997, Cabinet resolution recommending that subordinates not offer gifts to superiors or members of their superiorsí families.
The Cabinet was seeking ìto create value for being economicalî, encourage senior officials to set an example and keeping gift-offering in check among civil servants and per the law and regulations.