Civil servants' Bt18.8-bn salary overhaul goes to Cabinet

MONDAY, OCTOBER 03, 2011
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The Cabinet will tomorrow debate the overhaul of the salary structure for civil servants, a process expected to cost more than Bt18.8 billion.

The pay restructure has become necessary following the government’s plan to raise entry-level earnings to Bt15,000 a month which will take effect from January 1, Civil Service Commission secretary-general Nonthigorn Kanchanachitra said yesterday.

“Should Cabinet approve the new pay scale, the issue would be submitted for Parliament’s scrutiny next month,” he said.

Nonthigorn said the Cabinet was expected to choose between two options – a two-year spread or a four-year spread to implement the pay scale upgrade.

In the two-year option, the government would have to spend Bt8 billion in the 2012 fiscal year. The cost for the four-year option would be Bt1 billion for next year, while total spending for either of the two options would be Bt18.8 billion.

In his report, Deputy Finance Minister Viroon Techapaiboon urged the Cabinet to adopt the two-year option. He said that the overall cost to the government would be the same, but speedy adjustment to the pay scale would boost the morale of the 2 million civil servants.

Under the new pay scale, graduates with a vocational education certificate will received a salary of Bt10,690 after working for one year, an increase from Bt6,400. After 10 years in the civil service, they would expect to earn about Bt17,110 per month.

The graduates with a higher vocational education certificate will be paid Bt12,010 per month after one year in the civil service, a raise from Bt7,670. After 10 years on the job, they are expected to receive a salary of Bt19,810.

University graduates with a bachelor’s degree will receive a salary of Bt16,310 after one year on the job, an increase from Bt9,140. They would be paid about Bt23,810 per month after 10 years in the service.

Those with a master’s degree will receive a salary hike to Bt18,710 after working for one year, a jump from Bt12,600. They will earn about Bt26,610 per month after 10 years on the job.

Those with a PhD will be paid Bt24,810 per month after one year in the job, an increase from Bt17,010. After 10 years in the civil service, their pay will be Bt33,210 per month.