NURSES nationwide are outraged at the Civil Service Commission’s order delaying promotions till the next fiscal year thus cutting off advancement opportunities for frontline workers and urged the government to consider the needs of those who work behind the scenes, Amarin TV said today (Sep. 5).
A source within the nursing profession in Samut Songkhram province voiced her dissatisfaction with this postponement to a reporter of this television station and demanded that relevant agencies review the measures to reform the public sector workforce management system.
The Civil Service Commission’s letter sent out yesterday instructed government agencies to delay promotion of all positions to higher levels in fiscal 2027.
The letter stated that the cabinet has approved in principle to undertake this reform due to the high and continuously increasing proportion of personnel expenditures. A review of the missions and structure of government agencies to reduce duplication of work and utilise digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to support government operations is being undertaken.
The delay in promotion affects general, academic, managerial, and administrative positions including instances that result in increased personnel costs. However, the guidelines provide for some exceptions with this applying to high-achieving personnel in the academic field, as well as certain medical positions.
The Samut Songkhram source said this step has disappointed many nurses who are frontline workers providing close to 24-hour patient care, with many areas facing staffing shortages and continuously shoulder increased workloads.
The group most affected and concerned are nurses in the science and technology fields. In addition to their regular duties caring for and serving patients amidst staffing shortages, they also have responsibilities in developing service systems, improving patient safety, conducting research, analysing data, and producing numerous academic works to support their applications for higher-level positions.
For this group of nurses being promoted to higher positions is not automatically based on years of service. It requires a process of accumulating experience, developing work, conducting research, and presenting work demonstrating benefits to patients and the service system. Many have dedicated many years in preparing their work and now feel that their efforts and opportunities for advancement in their careers have been halted.
“Many nurses have worked for decades, taking day and night shifts, caring for patients during periods of limited personnel. Everyone endures these hardships hoping for career advancement.
“However, today we face measures to delay the advancement of positions, while some medical personnel are exempt. This raises the question of why nursing professionals are not considered in the same way,” the source said.
The source further stated that consideration for personnel advancement should not only focus on budgetary constraints, but also take into account actual working conditions, responsibilities, risks, and the impact on morale. If nurses feel they are being treated unfairly, it could affect the public health system in the long run.
“Many feel like quitting their jobs to express their dissatisfaction, but in reality, nurses cannot abandon patients. Every life in front of them is their responsibility. What nurses want is not special privileges, but fairness and recognition of their work,” the source said.
The source added that they want the government, the Civil Service Commission, and the Ministry of Public Health to listen to the feedback from nurses nationwide and review the details or implement appropriate measures, especially for those who have been working and waiting for advancement for decades, in order to maintain their morale.
While this measure is a delay in promotion till the next fiscal year not a permanent cancellation of advancement, the nursing group want relevant agencies to clarify criteria and impacts clearly as soon as possible to alleviate concern and restore confidence among frontline healthcare personnel,
“We would like to appeal to senior management and policymakers to consider the feelings of nurses who have been working uninterrupted for decades. Please reconsider and prioritise the advancement of our work,” the source said.
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An image of a nurse next to the letter sent out yesterday, above, and another nurse Front Page. Above photo – Amarin TV, Front Page photo JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash
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