Thai government approves 10% increase for civil servants starting at 18,000 baht
The Thai government approved a 10% salary increase for civil servants over a two-year period, beginning with new recruits.
According to Danucha Pichayanan, Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), the first increment is expected to come into effect once the budget for 2024 is approved.
Danucha explained that the salary adjustment will initially target newly inducted civil servants. Over the next two years, their salary will be increased to 18,000 baht. Older civil servants, whose salaries are currently below this level, will also receive increments to create a wage differential. This increment only applies to new civil servants for now.
The salary increment will be increased by 10% annually so that by 2025, newly inducted public servants will be earning 18,000 baht. While waiting for the salary increase, there will be a living allowance to provide support. However, the amount of this allowance is yet to be determined by the Comptroller General’s Department.
Civil servants who joined one or two years prior to the new salary base will also be considered for a salary increase. This is to ensure their salary is slightly higher than the new civil servants earning 18,000 baht, maintaining a wage gap between new and old civil servants, reported KhaoSod.
Four agencies have jointly agreed that the salary increase for government workers will range from operational level graduates to special expert level or C8 level. However, experts or directors at the C9 level will not receive a salary increase as they already have a high salary base.
The Budget Bureau and related agencies will consider the details of the budget to be used. It is initially estimated that the main budget of 5,000 to 6,000 million baht will be used in 2024 from the central budget. The Cabinet has hastily approved a 10% salary increase for civil servants, with new recruits starting at 18,000 baht.
