Bangkok: Centralized agencies in the regions are poised to be dissolved after it was found that their tasks overlapped with those of the governors. The government is considering dissolving central government agencies in the regions after finding their responsibilities overlapped with those of provincial governors, wasting budget resources. The government is also scrutinizing the excessively high salaries of some local administrators and pushing for a tax on hometowns/citizens' birthplace.
According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilapraphan revealed that the government is preparing a major overhaul of the local government reform system. The Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC) is preparing to propose to the Cabinet the abolition of central government agencies located in the regions. This is because many government agencies currently have branch offices in various provinces, which overlaps with the responsibilities of provincial governors. Importantly, the establishment of such agencies lacks legal basis under the national administrative regulations.
Mr. Pakorn stated that the Civil Service Commission (CSC) board had previously resolved to transform these agencies from branch offices to using online systems and computer technology to provide services to the public, instead of establishing offices in the regions. This action is considered a restructuring of the civil service system to streamline it, reduce redundancy, and focus on correcting illegal activities. The government has a package to support personnel previously appointed to various positions in the regions, including transferring them back to the central government or participating in an early retirement program, according to their preference.
"Establishing central agencies in regional areas is actually illegal because there is no legal basis for it. We will propose to the Cabinet to end these roles and return to an online system instead of opening numerous branches that waste budget. The world has changed; the need for branch offices has decreased significantly because we can use computer technology to manage documents immediately, replacing human labor. It also helps prevent corruption more easily through a standardized nationwide auditing system," Mr. Pakorn said.
Meanwhile, the government is also considering reforms to the compensation structure for local administrators, following the discovery of significant disparities in salaries and benefits that severely impact the central government system. This is because income levels are not based on a uniform standard. Recent findings indicate that municipal and sub-district administrative organization secretaries in many areas receive higher salaries and compensation than permanent secretaries in ministries, who are responsible for overseeing key policies and activities nationwide.
This unfairness arises from local administrative organizations having the freedom to set their own income criteria, which do not align with the criteria of the Civil Service Commission like central government officials. Therefore, the government is preparing to assign the Comptroller General's Department to develop a central accounting system to control the standards of operation and budget spending of local authorities, ensuring cost-effectiveness and transparency, in line with the modern public administration policy.
"How is it possible that municipal clerks have higher salaries and compensation than permanent secretaries of ministries, who oversee the entire country and are responsible for enormous responsibilities? Therefore, a major overhaul is necessary, including the adoption of technology and a reduction in personnel to only what is essential, so that the entire structure aligns with verifiable management standards. We aim for a new way of working that is in line with the changing world, including neutral accounting standards so that the government can verify that budget spending is cost-effective and truly benefits the public," the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Furthermore, Mr. Pakorn also mentioned the government's policy of promoting a tax on hometowns, stating that this approach would incentivize large companies to support small local communities with incomes under 25 million baht, which still lack significant development opportunities. This measure also allows the private sector to deduct donations from their taxes and promotes urban development, such as by including them in the calculation of their organization's carbon footprint according to the agreement. The transformation of local development will focus on creating a circular economy and a better quality of life, rather than solely focusing on road construction as in the past, in order to create long-term sustainability.
The government believes this approach will help bridge the inequality gap between large, high-income localities and smaller ones, ensuring equal access to public services that truly meet the needs of local communities.