Salary raise to village headmen(shrewd move)

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:24 pm

Raise approved for village heads
By: BangkokPost.com
Published: 24/02/2009 at 04:21 PM

The cabinet on Tuesday approved a 10-billion-baht budget to increase salary to kamnan, village chiefs and their deputies.

The decision will give salary raise to 270,000 government officials.

Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam said the raise is not aimed at increasing popularity for the government, adding that these groups of civil servants have not had salary raise in a decade.

Source - Bangkok Post

Well, a few points here that 'come to mind':

Firstly, I wasn't aware they(village headmen) were actually "official" government officials.
Secondly, 10 Billion baht, quite a 'kitty', the 'gabbing hands' will be out for that.
Thirdly, the inevitable result here will be hopeless/rampant corruption as the result of making more money available.
Fourthly, this move is obviously aimed at diminishing the Taksin support base, the right way to do it by offering a better deal to the rural vote.
Finally, the new PM is a shrewd fellow as he has learnt something from Taksin, which is 'get the rural vote onside' and the possibilities are endless.

BTW, there's not much on this at the moment but I suppose they would rather a move like this 'just slip past under the radar'. Also, I don't believe the Deputy Interior Minister's statement for one minute, this action has almost perfect timing, ironically, just as the government is having a slightly 'shaky' time, could be good "insurance". Interesting how little info is given in the report, no mention of "When/systems/how much per individual/who's accountable etc, all very vague.

However, good political

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 10:25 pm

For a bit of extra info, this is from The Nation,

Cabinet approves local officials' 100 per cent pay increase

The Cabinet Tuesday approved 100 per cent pay increase for village heads, kamnan, their assistants.

Deputy Government Spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said the increase would be implemented under two budget years, each of 50 per cent.

Currently a village heads get a monthly salary of Bt4,000 while a kamnan or tambon chief receives a monthly salary of Bt5,000. Their assistants receive Bt2,500 a month each.

The Nation

Didn't realise they were paid that much and that regulary. They will become well paid for "the village" and it will be a 'sort-after' job.

Post by **kendo** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 1:53 am

When we built our house in Banswhy the PYB asked my wife to take over the 3 year roll as PYB, shit, 4500 baht a month can she co-ordinate it from Dibden Purlieu, she spends enough time on on the phone anyway it might just cover the phone bills.

Kendo.

Post by **Vital Spark** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 2:23 am

Ahhh! That explains why the PYB next door has been firing some serious sounding guns tonight. I guess he and his delinquent son have been celebrating their new fortunes with a bit of a party.

The normally fearless Rubble (aka snake wrangler, and tonight tookay killer) dived under the kitchen table with his ears well back. Mrs. White (aka the untouchable) was shaking and crawling into the kitchen on her belly.

(To those that don't know they're both dogs - not my husband or maid).

It's a kind of feudal system here, which, quite frankly, works. The PYB has the power and the money to rule over his clan. He certainly polices the area, and if anyone falls out of line, well....

It's definitely a political move as the villages will obviously follow the advice of the head man.

VS

Post by **johnnyk** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:45 am

He gets to wear a spiffy military-style uniform on big days so I supose he is a salaried gov't type.
Poo yai in my ex-GF's mooban was also Mr. 20%, the gov't. salary was his walking-around money.