Teachers urged to report sexual blackmail

September 24, 2004

Deputy Prime Minister Vishanu Krua-ngam yesterday urged teachers to complain to police if their superiors coerced them into having sex with the threat of being laid off under the government's third step to reforming bureaucracy.

"If it's true, they should tell police, inform school directors and write me a report," he said.

He said if the scheme, which envisages laying off 5 per cent of officials, was widely criticised it could be shelved pending a rethink.

Although the method for dismissals appeared to open the door for superiors to bully subordinates, he said the chance was small because removing an official required nine separate steps.

Laying off inefficient officials is the third phase of the government's bureaucratic reform programme, following early retirement and the downsizing of agencies. It requires civil servants to undergo two performance reviews, one at this month's end and the other in March. Those failing both reviews would leave the service with eight months' severance pay.

Vishanu said there was no budget for the severance pay yet, as it was not clear how much money was needed, given that some officials would undergo skills training rather than being paid off.

He said physically impaired officials with medical certificates who wanted to retire were among the project's target, though they would not necessary fall within the 5-per-cent bracket.

However, both inefficient officials and the disabled would get eight months' severance pay, he said. Meanwhile, Public Health Deputy Permanent Secretary Thawat Suntrajarnb said the third step was actually a chance for civil servants to improve their performance, and only if all attempts failed would they be likely to leave the service.

However, he said those identified as falling within the 5 per cent could "feel upset".

He also admitted the process could invite bullying or influence-peddling since evaluation criteria were not clear enough and evaluators gave differing scores.

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