Thai government mulls to raise retirement pensions

BANGKOK, December 29 (TNA) - Thailand's government retirees are expected to soon receive more pensions, following the Cabinet's recent approval of a new 4 per cent salary hike of government officials in all sectors. Comptroller General Manas Jamveha told journalists on Monday that he has proposed the pension rise to follow the recent salary increase for government officials. Manas said that the proposal should be submitted to the Cabinet for further consideration and decision on December 30, 2014. Manas pointed out the proposed pension rise could be done through an increase in the cost-of-living allowance or a direct rise of pensions. It was reported that Permanent Secretary for Finance Rangson Sriworasat supported the rise to take retroactive effect from December 1, 2014 and it should cost the state about 3.85 billion baht, while about 533,000 pensioners will benefit from the hike. Traditionally, a salary increase for pensioners followed a pay rise of government officials. Earlier, the Thai Cabinet approved the 4 per cent-salary rise for 1.98 government officials in all sectors, taking retroactive effect from December 1, 2014, funded by a state budget of about 22.9 billion baht. (TNA)