Thailand plans early retirement programme to reduce number of civil servants
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As at June 2023, Thailand had as many as 1.68 million civil servants.
PHOTO: AFP
- Thailand plans an early retirement scheme for civil servants to cut the state workforce by about 5% a year and reduce government spending.
- The programme may start in fiscal 2027, first for workers aged 50 and over, with some aged 40+ eligible for health or caregiving reasons.
- The first phase may cost about seven billion baht, and compensation of more than 12 times monthly pay is still being discussed before cabinet approval.
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Thailand plans to introduce an early retirement programme for civil servants, as it seeks to cut the state workforce by about 5% a year to reduce government spending, Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt said.
The programme, expected to start fiscal 2027, will initially target employees aged 50 and over, while from 40 years old workers may qualify on the grounds of poor health or because they need to take care of relatives, he said.
The first phase is estimated to cost the government about seven billion baht (S$267.5 million), according to Pakorn. As at June 2023, Thailand had as many as 1.68 million civil servants.
The government is considering compensation of more than 12 times an employee’s monthly salary, but the exact amount is still being discussed with the finance ministry, Pakorn said.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s administration has put greater emphasis on fiscal consolidation, with the government’s budget stretched by relatively high spending and set to reach its 70% self-imposed ceiling.
The early retirement package is one of the administration’s ideas to make more funds available for a buffer in case of potential shocks to the Thai economy.
Relevant agencies are finalising the details of the plan before submitting it to the cabinet for approval, Pakorn said. BLOOMBERG