Panel Seeks Relief for 5,925 Employees Squeezed Out of Quota
A parliamentary committee is pushing to restore rights for nearly 5,900 local government employees wrongly excluded from civil service positions due to an exam fraud scandal, with officials seeking to allow them to choose their work locatio
On August 20 at Parliament, the parliamentary committee on decentralization, local government, and special administrative systems, chaired by Ranong MP Kongkrit Chaturmalee of the Bhumjaithai Party, met to consider restoring certain rights lost by civil servants and local government employees already hired who were not involved in the 2568 civil service exam fraud. Deputy Interior Minister Vorasit Liangprasoet, Deputy Director-General Siripun Srikongplee of the Department of Local Administration (DLA), and representatives from three local government associations—the Provincial Administrative Organization Association, the Municipal Association, and the Subdistrict Administrative Organization Association—attended the discussion.
Chairman Kongkrit reported that while the deputy minister provided clarification, some points could not be fully addressed due to other commitments; the DLA was tasked with providing additional explanations. The subdistrict organization chairman raised a key concern: whether the roughly 3,000 officials already appointed and cleared of fraud would have the right to choose their preferred province after fraud convictions were cancelled. Verasak Hadda, chairman of the Subdistrict Administrative Organization Association, expressed confidence that local authorities must comply with the central committee's order to remove more than 5,000 individuals involved in fraud by August 30 or face criminal penalties under Section 157 of the Penal Code.
Hadda further noted that once fraud cases are dismissed, innocent appointees currently locked into their assigned provinces should gain the right to reselect a location, as they need protection. However, regulations require officials to remain in their original position for two years before transfer. The DLA acknowledged the concern and pledged action. The committee chair and vice-chair gave a 15-day deadline for reconsideration. Deputy Chair and Spokesman Kittisak Engchuan stated that while the DLA insists appointees remain in place, lawsuits are inevitable because their rights have been diminished. The committee therefore proposed a special central committee resolution to remedy the situation; after new scores are announced, this group is expected to rank high and should have the right to choose their work location.
