Bangkok: Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilapraphan has instructed the Civil Service Commission to explore an early retirement strategy aimed at reducing the size of the civil service workforce. The initiative is part of a broader effort to transition towards a digital government, aligning with the standards set by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
According to Thai News Agency, Pakorn has tasked the Civil Service Commission (CSC) with accelerating the formulation of an early retirement plan. The goal is to address the surplus of civil servants whose roles no longer meet the demands of a modern, digitally-driven government infrastructure. Pakorn has expressed his opposition to proposals for extending the retirement age beyond the current threshold of 60 years, noting that similar efforts in other countries have led to public discontent and protests. Such measures have also been critiqued for restricting job opportunities for new graduates due to limited vacancies within the civil service.
The shift towards digital systems is a driving factor behind the proposed reduction in the civil service workforce. As AI and digital technologies become more prevalent, the necessity for human labor decreases. Pakorn cited New Zealand's success in cutting its civil servant numbers by 8,700 in just one year as an example of effective implementation. As the civil service adapts to these changes, a revised compensation structure is expected for those remaining in the system. This includes potential salary increases for civil servants facing higher workloads. For retirees, the government intends to foster new job opportunities aligned with market needs, providing options for consistent income without the requirement of lifelong full-time employment.