TOT's labour union has sent a petition to the prime minister claiming irregularities in the state telecom enterprise's new management structure.
TOT board chairman Gen Surapong Suwana-adth addresses employees yesterday, urging them to be united and tolerant at a time of hardship caused by critical changes at the state telecom enterprise.
The petition, submitted yesterday, asked the government and the State Enterprises Policy Commission or superboard to scrutinise the management structure and function of TOT again to ensure good corporate governance, said Pongthiti Pongsilamanee, deputy chairman of TOT's labour union.
The new structure became effective from Jan 1 after being endorsed by TOT's board last month.
It is aimed at improving the enterprise's management and operation as well as reviving its ailing financial status.
Under the new structure, the number of operating units has been cut from 13 to seven. Only six of the existing 13 senior executive vice-presidents will serve as heads to oversee the state enterprise's businesses, while the remaining seven have been demoted to inactive posts.
Mr Pongthiti said the new structure lacked transparency and had not been sufficiently audited. It also lacked clarity about job descriptions and about what the particular tasks entail as well as a lack of proper tracking and measurement for successful performance.
In addition, some operating units such as the IT department are not practical in the real business world.
Furthermore, some executives have been recruited and appointed even though the positions have not yet been formally created and approved, he said.
Gen Surapong Suwana-adth, the new chairman of TOT's board, said the new structure was expected to help the enterprise improve revenue this year.
TOT is also preparing to submit its turnaround plan to the superboard, focusing on six core areas after the expiry of concession revenue.
The six areas are basic telecommunications infrastructure, telecom towers, wireless service, fixed-based broadband internet, international internet gateways and submarine cables.
"We know about the pros and cons of changing. We believe it will bring about drastic improvements in our revenue prospects and enhance sustainable growth," Gen Surapong said yesterday after giving a short speech to TOT employees on the first day in his new position.
Sophon Ya-aek, a former member of TOT's labour union, said he was really frustrated with Gen Surapong after he refused to provide details about the new business strategies and management structure.
"The fate of TOT is now hanging in the balance and facing uncertainty," a source at TOT said.