Reform retirement

Many governments have toyed with the idea of extending the retirement age for civil servants, following the footsteps of Western countries. Yet, none has treated it as seriously as the current administration.

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Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul floated the idea of retirement extension earlier this month, and this week, the government will discuss the matter with the Office of the Civil Service Commission to prepare for policy implementation, including the criteria and pension calculation model.

The idea of extending retirement age for public servants is to address the country’s ageing population, which is expected to result in a shrinking pool of people entering public service and an ensuing decline in its competency.

Supporters argue that, as Thailand is set to become a “super-aged society” by 2033, with almost 30% of its population 60 or older, the working-age group will shrink.

Keeping older and experienced workers in their jobs — especially those requiring specialised skills, such as judges or professors — will help mitigate the labour shortage.