The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry plans to ask the government to recruit an additional 700 employees as part of its digital economy strategy.
The restructuring and renaming of the ICT Ministry to the Digital Economy and Society Ministry are major strategies for the development of a digital economy, ICT Minister Pornchai Rujiprapa said yesterday.
The additional staff is deemed necessary to ensure the ministry runs smoothly and efficiently. Of the total, 600 are needed to supervise the implementation of policies at provincial level, while the rest will have additional duties and responsibilities.
The ICT Ministry now has 2,139 staff — 900 in the Meteorological Department, 900 in the National Statistical Office and 339 in the Office of the Permanent Secretary.
Under the restructuring plan, Mr Pornchai said the number of staff working in the Office of the Permanent Secretary would be reduced to 90 from 339.
The other 249 staff will be transferred to the new Digital Economy Department under the Digital Economy and Society Ministry.
"The renaming and restructuring of the ICT Ministry is expected to be completed during next year's first quarter," he said.
Mr Pornchai also said the Digital Economy and Society Ministry would oversee five offices — the Office of the Minister, the Office of the Permanent Secretary, the Digital Economy Office, the Meteorology Office and the National Statistical Office.
The restructuring and renaming of the ministry is in compliance with a draft law approved by the cabinet on Dec 16 regarding the setting up a national digital economy committee chaired by the prime minister and restructuring of the ICT Ministry.
The appointment of a new ICT minister requires royal endorsement.
Mr Pornchai said the ICT Ministry in collaboration with the Defence, Education, and Science and Technology ministries was drafting a roadmap for national space technology development to promote the local satellite industry.
The joint panel was assigned to conduct a feasibility study including operational assessments and seeking potential strategic partners, he said.