The cabinet on Tuesday approved a new pay scale for local leaders, including a stepped 50% rise for kamnans, or tambon chiefs, to a maximum 15,000 baht per month, government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.
Currently the monthly pay for tambon chiefs is fixed at 10,000 baht; village chiefs or phuyaibans 8,000 baht; and tambon medics, assistants to kamnans and assistants to village chiefs 5,000 baht.
Under the new pay scale, kamnans will get a maximum monthly pay of 15,000 baht, phuyaibans 13,000 baht; and, tambon medics, kamnans' assistants and assistants to phuyaibans 10,000 baht.
The new pay scale will have 25 steps of increment, 200 baht for each step.
"This means kamnans who now get 10,000 baht per month will get a step increase every year, and their salary will go up to 10,200 baht next year. Their ceiling pay is 15,000 baht per month. However, kamnans of outstanding performance will be entitled to a two-step increase, or 400 baht. This will also apply to other positions," Maj Gen Sansern said.
The spokesman said people should not see this as move to win popular support because the government has also increased the salaries of officials and state enterprise employees.