A fresh start to the new year. | Photo via The Thaiger

 

The Thai Cabinet reversed its decision to add additional public holidays in 2026, citing potential negative impacts on businesses and employment. During the meeting on December 2, a proposal to include two special public holidays was reconsidered as ministers expressed concerns about disruptions to business operations and the labor market. As a result, the proposal was withdrawn pending further discussions on its economic implications.

 

Initially, the Secretariat of the Cabinet suggested adding holidays on June 2 and July 31, 2026, which would have created extended breaks. The proposed dates aimed to allow consecutive holidays, with June proposed to span May 30 to June 3, and July 28 to August 2. Despite these suggestions, the Cabinet chose to prioritize a cautious approach to avoid possible business interruptions.

 

The only additional holiday approved for 2026 is Friday, January 2, facilitating a longer New Year holiday. This decision was confirmed through a Cabinet resolution and remains unaffected by the recent reconsideration. Currently, no further changes have been made to the scheduled public holidays for the year.

 

Economic experts have indicated that while more holidays could boost tourism and retail sectors, they might simultaneously hinder manufacturing and other industries dependent on continuous operation. The Chamber of Commerce has also voiced that extended holidays could strain smaller enterprises already facing pressure from global economic challenges. The government plans to engage with stakeholders for deeper analysis before revisiting the topic.

 

Going forward, the Cabinet will focus on evaluating the comprehensive impact of public holidays on the economy. Engagement with various sectors will be crucial to formulating a balanced Thailand's national holiday calendar. Future decisions will consider the views of both businesses and employees to ensure an equitable solution, reported The Thaiger.

 

Key Takeaways

• The proposal for extra public holidays in 2026 is postponed for further study.
• January 2, 2026, remains a confirmed special holiday for New Year.
• Future holiday decisions will undergo thorough economic impact analysis.

 

Related Stories:

Thailand’s New Year public holidays announced

Upcoming public holidays and impact on immigration office hours

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-12-02

 

 

 

Shouldn't they have thought about that in the first place..........🙄

Thailand the Hub of flip flop decisions!!   

25 minutes ago, transam said:

Shouldn't they have thought about that in the first place..........🙄

Yeeeeeees

They should stop with seeing celebrations as work. Visakha Buchha is on Sunday. It is already on a day off and don't need to have an extra day off. Same for the birthdays of the Royal Family, if it is on a weekend day, people are free already and don't need to have an extra day off. Most of the Thai people have to work every day, holiday, celebration or not as they will not get money, otherwise the Government officials and officers are only benefitting from it. Reduce the total number of holidays and things will be better, and less accidents

12 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Most of the Thai people have to work every day, holiday, celebration or not as they will not get money

The only extra holiday that affects factory workers and the like is Jan 2 making a long NY holiday.

NY and Songkran are the real important holidays.

Those are the days of heavy travel to visit family and friends.

23 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

 Most of the Thai people have to work every day, holiday, celebration or not as they will not get money, 

 

Millions are employed in positions that are covered by Thai labour laws.

48hr week (6 x 8).

Annual leave - 6 days (minimum).

Public holidays  - 13 days (minimum).

Sick Leave - 30 days.

Maternity leave - 90 days.

Patternity leave - 3 days.

Military leave -  60days.

Etc.

Etc.

 

36 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Millions are employed in positions that are covered by Thai labour laws.

48hr week (6 x 8).

Annual leave - 6 days (minimum).

Public holidays  - 13 days (minimum).

Sick Leave - 30 days.

Maternity leave - 90 days.

Patternity leave - 3 days.

Military leave -  60days.

Etc.

Etc.

 

And millions are not !

4 minutes ago, JoePai said:

And millions are not !

So punish the ones covered by Thai Labour law ?

 

555, good luck getting that past the Thai Labour Unions!

15 hours ago, transam said:

Shouldn't they have thought about that in the first place..........🙄

Forethought doesn't exist in this country. 

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

They should stop with seeing celebrations as work. Visakha Buchha is on Sunday. It is already on a day off and don't need to have an extra day off. Same for the birthdays of the Royal Family, if it is on a weekend day, people are free already and don't need to have an extra day off. Most of the Thai people have to work every day, holiday, celebration or not as they will not get money, otherwise the Government officials and officers are only benefitting from it. Reduce the total number of holidays and things will be better, and less accidents

 

they cite bank holidays as being good for the economy, failing to realise while it may be good for the hospitality industry as the locals go on trips, it's terrible for the rest of the economy as output reduces due to staff being on holiday.

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

So punish the ones covered by Thai Labour law ?

 

555, good luck getting that past the Thai Labour Unions!

Yes, there are unions in Thailand, though unionization rates are very low. Thai law allows employees to form unions, but factors like restrictive laws, employer resistance, and a lack of enforcement have contributed to a weak and fragmented labor movement with less than 2% of the workforce unionized. 

Annual leave is 6 days. Europe 3-4 weeks. Yet Europe is still, per country, generally doing better. 6 days is nothing.

Watch Michael Moore's Where to Invade Next for a discussion on why leave is important.

They add these holidays but normal business don't add them and operate as normal, the only people who truly benefit are government employee's who already only work a 5 day week, children are given time off but then parents struggle finding alternative child care

19 hours ago, transam said:

Shouldn't they have thought about that in the first place..........🙄

That takes a thought process.

I could be completely wrong but I  have been led to understand two things from conversing with low wage Thai people. A , there is already too many holidays because B, when they don't work they don't get paid.

   Seems this extra holiday talk is only pertinent to well off government employees. And yes, there is a lot of them.

Good.  Way too many holidays already.

4 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

Yes, there are unions in Thailand, though unionization rates are very low. Thai law allows employees to form unions, but factors like restrictive laws, employer resistance, and a lack of enforcement have contributed to a weak and fragmented labor movement with less than 2% of the workforce unionized. 

The Thai Labour law is pretty good, way better than in a lot of countries. The Labour office is a powerful organisation with tools to make Owners or HR people from companies very nervous.

3 hours ago, Thumbs said:

They add these holidays but normal business don't add them and operate as normal, the only people who truly benefit are government employee's who already only work a 5 day week, children are given time off but then parents struggle finding alternative child care

our 2026 work Calendar has already been approved by corporate.....

We will get the 2nd off but it is forced annual leave or leave without pay.

36 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

The Thai Labour law is pretty good, way better than in a lot of countries. The Labour office is a powerful organisation with tools to make Owners or HR people from companies very nervous.

Thailand Labour Rights Index score of 64 out of 100, which is slightly below the Southeast Asian regional average.

Thai labor law is restrictive in some areas  Restrictions also exist through non-compete clauses which court can not protect employees, As any thing in Thailand it starts good but then fails  

You hardly hear of Owners being prosecuted for lack of safety, quality  or training lack of,  for a third world country it still need improvement  

1 hour ago, MikeandDow said:

Thailand Labour Rights Index score of 64 out of 100, which is slightly below the Southeast Asian regional average.

Thai labor law is restrictive in some areas  Restrictions also exist through non-compete clauses which court can not protect employees, As any thing in Thailand it starts good but then fails  

You hardly hear of Owners being prosecuted for lack of safety, quality  or training lack of,  for a third world country it still need improvement  

The law is good; the Labour office is good. The problem is that many workers don't know the law AND / OR are afraid to speak up and contact the Labour office.

12 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

The law is good; the Labour office is good. The problem is that many workers don't know the law AND / OR are afraid to speak up and contact the Labour office.

The laws maybe their but incomplete for effective management and again the laws if not enforced which they are are no good for  example has any prosecution been made on safety for the workers NO ! !   and you have answered your own  no training given in the laws for workers  Thailand has a lot of Laws for about everything but without enforcement they mean nothing !!!  

On 12/2/2025 at 4:50 PM, transam said:

Shouldn't they have thought about that in the first place..........🙄

with what ???

Just now, portisaacozzy said:

with what ???

Never mind.........😟

1 hour ago, MikeandDow said:

The laws maybe their but incomplete for effective management and again the laws if not enforced which they are are no good for  example has any prosecution been made on safety for the workers NO ! !   and you have answered your own  no training given in the laws for workers  Thailand has a lot of Laws for about everything but without enforcement they mean nothing !!!  

Have a look here: Thailand Labor Landmark Case: Employers Jailed for Unpaid Severance of more than 800 Workers - The Legal Co., Ltd. 

and here: Workplace Health and Safety Guidelines in Thailand: An Overview of Employer Obligations and Worker Protections

3 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Have a look here: Thailand Labor Landmark Case: Employers Jailed for Unpaid Severance of more than 800 Workers - The Legal Co., Ltd. 

and here: Workplace Health and Safety Guidelines in Thailand: An Overview of Employer Obligations and Worker Protections

i have seen the employers Obligations but do they carry them out NO !!  Thailand safety record is abysmal and should be ashamed of it  and as you have posted unpaid severance LAND MARK case   do you know what Landmark means  A landmark case is a court decision that establishes a significant new legal precedent  it was new, no prosecution  before hand   as i said before Thailand has the Laws but fail to implement them  its the same with anything in thailand  they have the laws procedures ect but lack the enforcement 

On 12/2/2025 at 9:58 AM, MikeandDow said:

Thailand the Hub of flip flop decisions!!   

Shouldn't it be news when Thailand doesn't change its mind. Dog bites man isn't news. Man bites dog is news.

There's still plenty of them.

On 12/2/2025 at 4:50 PM, transam said:

Shouldn't they have thought about that in the first place..........🙄

Surely you're joking...Thai's thinking things through...555

15 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

i have seen the employers Obligations but do they carry them out NO !!  Thailand safety record is abysmal and should be ashamed of it  and as you have posted unpaid severance LAND MARK case   do you know what Landmark means  A landmark case is a court decision that establishes a significant new legal precedent  it was new, no prosecution  before hand   as i said before Thailand has the Laws but fail to implement them  its the same with anything in thailand  they have the laws procedures ect but lack the enforcement 

Companies have been forced to pay severance pay for a very long time. This was the first time that people ended up in jail for not doing so, normally they cave in and pay. I have seen this happen loads of time.

 

I work here, do you?