State employees in the traditional Thai medicine industry want Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to increase the number of personnel in the field.
Under the umbrella of "The Traditional Thai Medicine Club", 80 workers assembled at Government House on Monday to lodge a petition asking the premier to boost equality in the sector.
In their petition, they complained the Public Health Ministry for ignoring Thai traditional medicinal practitioners in their "unfair" recruitment policy.
The club members have been working as temporary staff for the Ministry of Public Health for years. They have been waiting for the ministry to officially raise their status to permanent officials.
"Many of us graduated from university in Thai medicine and already have licences to operate as Thai traditional medicinal practitioners," said representative of the club, Tharathon Atworachot.
"We have been waiting for the ministry to induct us as officers for years. We receive very low salaries, less then 15,000 baht a month. That is demoralising," he said, before adding that the ministry's recruitment policy is not benefiting the industry.
The ministry's official recruitment policy is oriented to find replacements for staff who have retired. However, there are fewer positions available for those who practise Thai traditional medicine compared to other fields.
"So what happens is that many of us have to wait until senior Thai traditional medicine officers retire, which may take years or even decades," Mr Tharathon said.
He urged the ministry to create increase the headcount by opening up more positions in the field.
"While many officers have been assigned to positions in various departments, the traditional Thai medicine unit receives no new personnel," Mr Tharathon added.
This conflicts with a report that says the traditional Thai medicine sector is suffering a serious shortage of about 1,531 personnel, he said.
Traditional Thai medicine is a considered as a source of local wisdom and remains popular among many people.
The government has promoted Thai traditional medicine as part of measures to make Thailand a health and wellness hub.
In August, the government announced a 20-year plan to develop Thailand into a world herbal medicine hub under its "Thailand 4.0" strategy.
Under the plan, the Public Health Ministry is tasked to encourage the practising of Thai traditional medicine and production of Thai medicinal herb.