The Burmese military government proposes to raise the salaries of its employees and make it at par with ASEAN countries. It is believed that the move is to woo voters for the forthcoming 2010 general elections.

“Prime Minister Thein Sein announced that a government employee will get eight times his current salary, when he visited Chin state,” said a secretary of the Township general administration.

A report said that the Finance Department is chalking out the new budget and the final draft will be completed in April 2010. The Finance Department will soon review the 2009 budget.

“Very senior employees nearing retirement will be paid compensation and made to retire from service. Employees above 45 years will also be paid compensation and pension. The rest of the employees will have their salaries increased by about eight times the current salary,” he added.

The Finance Minister General Hla Thun announced on 3 December 2009 that Ministers will get salaries on the scale of Kyat 15000-1000-200000 and Kyat 19000-2000-100000 in 2010.

“The increase in salary is welcome but the price of commodities will escalate immediately and the consequences for ordinary people will be bad,” said a government employee.

Most government employees are of the opinion that the salaries are being increased by the military junta to woo voters for the forthcoming 2010 general elections.-