Lawmaker Challenges Labor Ministry's 5% Budget Cut Proposal
A lawmaker challenged the Labor Ministry's spending practices, citing unequal meal allowances for training participants and lavish expenses for international conference attendance, including business-class flights and excessive per diems fo
At parliament on September 9, during consideration of Article 22 regarding the Labor Ministry, Thanaporn Wichanthorn, a list-system member of parliament from the People's Party, proposed a 5 percent budget cut. The ministry's overall training and seminar budget stands at approximately 217 million baht, divided into three categories: drug addiction management at 25.63 million baht, independent labor funding at 137.2 million baht, and human trafficking and forced labor prevention at 47.5 million baht. However, individual departments duplicate budgets without a clear central coordinating plan.
Wichanthorn highlighted disparities in meal allowances during ministry training programs. Senior officials and employers receive 900-1,000 baht per meal, mid-level officials and general staff receive 500-800 baht per meal, while ordinary citizens and workers receive 80-300 baht per day. Agricultural workers receive no meals, only a 35-baht per-meal break allowance. This reflects inequitable budget planning, she said.
Regarding international conference expenses, Wichanthorn noted that the Labor Ministry attends annual International Labour Organization meetings, most recently in Geneva, Switzerland at the 115th session with 19 delegates. She questioned numerous line items as a new parliament member: Business Class airfare at 200,000 baht per person, accommodation at 35,000 baht per night for ministers and 14,000 baht for officials, VIP meal per diems of 3,100 baht daily, and clothing allowances of 9,000 baht per person. Wichanthorn questioned why clothing allowances were necessary, asking whether conference attendees lack clothes to wear, and suggested that formal attire should suffice without such unreasonable budget padding.
