Bangkok: The Secretary-General of the Parliament announced the cancellation of a planned salary increase for "Assistants to MPs and Senators," emphasizing that the current pay rates will remain unchanged and that these positions will not be eliminated.
According to Thai News Agency, the Secretary-General of the House of Representatives explained that the decision to cancel the salary adjustment aligns with the current economic situation. The cancellation is not related to recent allegations of individuals falsely claiming parliamentary positions for personal gain. The Speaker of the House has also introduced stricter screening processes for appointments to prevent any misuse of positions.
Mr. Siroj Paetpan, the Secretary-General of the House of Representatives, spoke following the official publication of the Parliamentary Regulation on the Repeal of Regulations Regarding the Appointment of Individuals to Perform Duties Beneficial to Parliamentary Work. He confirmed that while the regulation repeal affects remuneration adjustments, the positions of assistants to MPs and Senators remain intact. The decision to maintain existing salary rates reflects the Speaker of the House's policy, considering the current economic climate as unsuitable for a pay increase.
In March 2025, the Parliamentary Civil Service Commission approved a salary adjustment for various parliamentary roles, with changes to take effect in October 2026. However, after assuming office in March 2026, Speaker Mr. Sophon Saram declared that increasing salaries was not appropriate given the nation's economic context, leading to the cancellation of the planned adjustment. Consequently, the Secretariat of the House did not request additional budget allocation for this purpose in the 2027 fiscal year.
The salary adjustment proposal initially aimed to address a projected 20% increase in living costs. Currently, assistants to MPs and specialists earn approximately 15,000 baht per month, while experts receive 24,000 baht. The decision to retain current pay rates comes after careful consideration of economic indicators and the Speaker's assessment of the situation.
Addressing speculation about the timing of the regulation repeal amid allegations of misuse of parliamentary positions, the Secretary-General clarified that the decision was independent of these allegations. The move to revoke the salary increase was initiated by the Speaker in March 2026, with the Civil Service Commission's approval following in May 2026, predating the allegations.
To further prevent misuse of parliamentary positions, the Speaker has mandated thorough background checks for appointments to political working groups, ensuring individuals with questionable records are not placed in sensitive roles that could harm the legislative institution's integrity.