The State Enterprise Policy Office has commissioned Siam Cement Group to study comparable salaries at private companies, office director-general Areepong Bhoocha-oom said yesterday.

"State enterprise CEOs haven't had a pay rise for four years. This could make jobs at these enterprises less attractive to qualified professionals," he said.

State enterprise chiefs fall into two salary brackets - from Bt200,000 to Bt1 million a month and those getting more than Bt1 million.

PTT president Prasert Bunsumpun is the highest-paid state enterprise boss. Thai Airways International reportedly pays its No 1 Bt600,000 a month and Airports of Thailand is advertising between Bt400,000 and Bt900,000 for whoever lands the position of president.

Areepong said yesterday the office had asked Siam Cement to study private-sector salary structures for its top people. The data will be used to set the state enterprise CEO salaries.

Siam Cement is the country's biggest conglomerate with almost 100 subsidiary companies active in chemicals, paper, cement, building materials and distribution. It conducts salary-structure studies for internal use.

Its investigation for the office will be completed within two months.

Areepong said the study would consider remuneration for all staff, but the office was not seriously considering an across-the-board hike at this time.

The government plans a 4-per-cent rise for civil servants, effective in October. The increase will cost Bt17 billion.

Wichit Chaitrong

The Nation