Officially, “inactive posts” do not exist. According to a retired government official, it is simply a term used in English-language media to describe bureaucrats transferred to less desirable positions.
There is no official description, but in Thai those who have been moved are usually referred to as having been “shelved”. “It’s not a punishment per se because the official is still entitled to the same salary or the same position level,” said the retired Commerce Ministry official, who asked not to be named.
“But inactive positions are often advisory posts, without subordinates or the authority to approve budget requests, which signify the prestige of one’s position.”
Subordinates tend to be moved to inactive posts when a superior wants to promote people he deems more appropriate. It is difficult for the superior to fire or transfer officials — even those considered dead wood — unless it has been proven they committed a serious offence.
“We cannot lay off our staff easily like the private sector,” the official said.
This is why so many are shunted sideways, to less important positions at the same pay level.
If an official is found to be involved in corruption or malfeasance, they are suspended from work until the investigation is complete.
A retired Foreign Ministry official said political inference typically came when a new government took office. “It shows the challenges facing the bureaucratic system, which is under political influence, even though Thai civil servants are supposed to be politically neutral,” said the official.
The Thai system is meant to follow the British civil service model, which is politically neutral under democratic rule. Bureaucrats there serve different ministries according to their expertise and transfers between ministries are rare.
The official explained that by comparison, the US civil service is heavily politicised, because the president and Congress are directly involved in certain appointments, such as ambassadors.
In reality, the Thai system has increasingly fallen under political influence. Officials who are perceived as close to a politician are often transferred to advisory roles when the opposition takes office.
“Some transfers happen when the politician views the incumbent officials as having failed to carry out his policies,” the former official added.
“That is a challenge for bureaucratic reform: How to enable Thai officials to work to serve the public interest without political pressure. Otherwise, officials will be more concerned about their survival than concentrating on their job.”
Being a civil servant has long been perceived as prestigious, with ministries in the past attracting talented graduates. But in recent years, many have been lost to the private sector. The former official said failure to reform will further discourage others from joining in the future.