Pakorn Explains Early Retirement Is for the Countrys Future, Points Out Over 70% Budget is Fixed, Leaving Little for Development - Thairath English
Pakorn asks that early retirement be seen as an action taken for the country's future, noting that over 70% of the budget is fixed expenses which leaves little for development. He emphasizes that the lump sum has a formula related to remaining civil service years, not a multiplication of the final salary as reported on social media.
At 08:15 on 3 Nov 2026 at the Mondathip Hall Conference Center, Udon Thani Province, Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapan spoke about conclusions on the Early Retirement measure, responding to rumors it could be as high as 18 times salary. He said he wants people to see it as a step for the nation's future because each year a large budget is spent. The missing element is national development since about 70% of the budget is committed to fixed expenses, leaving very little for development.
Pakorn added that civil servants have not received salary increases for a long time because there is no money. Even if increases occur, due to the large number of staff, each would get only a small amount since funds must be averaged and divided among many, which does not benefit the service. Therefore, the question of how many times the payment will be should be seen as a friendly separation, not focused on how much money one will get. Ultimately, after retirement, everyone still needs to work because no one can live on retirement funds alone; they must have working skills.
Pakorn said the basis will be the original formula, approximately 15 times. He confirmed there is a calculation formula and denied the social media reports that 15 times would be multiplied by the final salary, which surprised him. The formula corresponds to the remaining civil service years of the participants, not a direct multiplication, to avoid misunderstandings and incorrect expectations.
When asked if the payment could reach 18 times, Pakorn said they would try their best. When asked if those with only 1–2 years of remaining service would not receive that much, he confirmed that was correct.
When asked when the measure would be submitted to the Cabinet, Pakorn said they aim to do so within November. The Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC), acting as secretary for the Government Personnel Policy and Target Setting Committee, is currently reviewing details. The principles will be presented to the Cabinet first since the project requires a certain amount of funding to proceed.
