New panel to set salary scale for state officials

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: The Cabinet yesterday resolved to set up a committee that will be in charge of creating an appropriate salary structure for all state officials, Deputy Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.

This salary structure will be implemented under the next government, he said.

He explained that discrepancies in the salary structure have been present since 1997, after legislation was passed separating the pay structure for judicial officials from those of other state officials. Judges have had their own salary structure since 2000, public prosecutors have had theirs since 2001, teachers have had theirs since 2004, soldiers have had theirs since 2008 and the police have had theirs since 2011.

Sansern said the new panel would ensure all state officials receive wages in amounts that are appropriate to each sector. He pointed out that soldiers of all ranks earn less than district chiefs, while the premier earns less than judges.

— Phuket Gazette Editors