Thailand Plans Early Retirement For Civil Servants Over 50

Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilpraband has announced progress on an early retirement scheme for ordinary civil servants set to begin in fiscal year 2570. The initial criteria have been finalised, but officials are still determining the exact severance multiple—currently ranging from 8 to 12 times the base salary—as the government committee believes 12 times may not be attractive enough to encourage participants to pursue new careers. The Bureau of the Budget has been ordered to review and potentially increase the compensation package, though a proposal of 50 times has been ruled out as excessive.

Pakorn stated that once the final package is approved, agency heads will decide which employees can leave early to minimise disruption to government operations. In the first phase, the scheme targets a 5 percent reduction in the civil service workforce, with similar annual cuts planned over five years, though full effects may not be visible for up to a decade due to the complexity of implementation and budget calculations.

The government has earmarked approximately 7 billion baht for the first year based on a 12-times multiplier. The primary target age is 50 years and above, though those aged 40 and older with compelling reasons—such as caring for elderly parents or serious illness—may also apply. Officials are also reviewing whether to integrate insurance systems into civil service healthcare provisions, balancing budget constraints with employee benefit needs.