Several state enterprises are preparing to open their books so the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) can review their bonuses and privileges.
NCPO chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has ordered the Prime Minister's Office and agencies concerned to submit reports of allowances, bonuses, privileges and other perks given to members of 56 state enterprise boards for comparison with criteria set out by the Bank of Thailand and the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
Permanent secretary for finance Rangsan Siworasat confirmed the Finance Ministry is collecting information to propose to the NCPO for review.
It found some state enterprises paid annual bonuses that were too high, such as the Airport of Thailand Plc (AoT) which last year paid bonuses worth 11 months' wages, he said.
Several other state enterprises paid lucrative bonuses, such as the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, which paid seven month bonuses; the Government Savings Bank, which paid 5.8 months; Government Housing Bank, which paid seven months; and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, which paid six months.
An Aot source said ministry representatives can propose new bonus rates for consideration to the board.
According to the source, the decision about annual bonuses normally rests with the AoT president, who will work with executives to evaluate the company around the end of the fiscal year, or September.
The calculation of bonuses rests with key performance indicators (KPI) set for the company's operation.
Using last year as an example, the source said AoT made a 16-billion-baht profit, and its employees could expect to receive an 11-month bonus each.
However, the figure still needs approval from the AoT board, the source added.
Public demand for cutting back on freebies and bonuses at state enterprises has taken centre stage since the army seized power from the Pheu Thai-led caretaker government.
Don Mueang airport director Jaturongkapol Sodmanee said deliberation on the AoT annual bonus depends on the company's policy-making executives.
THAI union president Damrong Waiyakanee said that if the NCPO wants to step in to manage bonuses, it should set a limit, such as four months.
He said the average annual THAI bonuses are between 1-2 months, adding that the company cannot pay bonuses if it is making losses.
He is waiting for a clear direction from the NCPO on the matter, he said.
A State Railway of Thailand (SRT) source also agreed with NCPO efforts to re-organise the bonus system at state enterprises, such as those for PTT Plc and Expressway Authority of Thailand, which make huge profits.
Because these companies provide public services, their privileges should be cut back and returned to the state, the source said.
The source said the SRT has never paid bonuses to its employees due to its debt burden, but the agency may start giving them out this year as it is likely to reach its revenue target.
Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai) president Sarinee Sangprasit said the agency has no bonus system because it is a non-profit organisation under the Transport Ministry.
Instead, the company pays an annual special allowance to employees.
Meanwhile, NCPO deputy chief Prajin Jantong, who oversees economic affairs, will resign as chairman of the Thai Airways International Plc board on Thursday for the sake of transparency, a source said.