Government officials to be allowed to take long weekend holidays to promote tourism

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet Tuesday resolved to have government officials reschedule working days near long holidays and weekends so that they can enjoy long weekends as part of the tourism promotion.

Deputy Government Spokesman Suparak Khunha said the Cabinet approved the proposal to allow government officials switch working days with weekends on the case by case basis so that they can take long weekend holidays.

But if a national holiday falls on a weekend, the officials will also be treated with an extra holiday like private firms' employees. The officials will not be able to take more than one extra holiday per week, the spokesman said.

Currently, employees of private firms are treated with an extra holiday on Monday if a national holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday but the government officials are not allow to have such an extra holiday.

The spokesman cited the case of long holidays early July as an example or working day rescheduling. Two national holidays - Asanha Bucha Day (the day before the Buddhist Lent) and Buddhist Lent Day - fall on Tuesday July 7 and Wednesday July 8.

To allow government officials to take long weekend, they will switch the working day from Monday July 6 to Saturday July 4, the spokesman said.

-- The Nation 2009-02-17

You got to be sh*tting me...

So they will have to wake them up a day earlier so they can go home and sleep!

Unless they consider tourism as visiting the nearest shopping mall, I hate to tell the officials, but most don't go anywhere.

Why not just declare 4 days working week for the rest of 2009. That will promote a lot of tourism.

Sounds like a good idea.

Politicians and bureaucrats have a hard work collecting tea money.

Since the 8 to 5 job is already 9:30 to 3:30 with an hour and a half off for lunch, why not an extra day? Its not like many of these people actually work in the office anyway.

Edited February 17, 200917 yr by LadyHeather

So we can expect institutions like the land office,tax registration office etc. to be closed 3-4 days in a row on many occasions in the future or at least very long queues in weeks where there is a public holiday.

Does this government consists out of insane people?

Utterly insane to treat government-workers to the same rights as private-industry ones, I mean just who do they think they are, human beings with equal employment-rights ?

Utterly insane to treat government-workers to the same rights as private-industry ones, I mean just who do they think they are, human beings with equal employment-rights ?

Hope you aren't trying to infer that this would be bringing the government-workers somehow in line with us in the private-industry companies.

I must be missing something here! I thought the stimulus required in the tourism industry was an injection of foreign income. How will some public servant spending his 300 Baht tea money in a down market resort in Sumut Sakhon sort it out the problem to the detriment of efficiency (if there is such a thing) within their own offices.

How about making one day per week at which government officials must work.

That would help everyone.

How about making one day per week at which government officials must work.

That would help everyone.

You have made my day with that one h90, brilliant

How about making one day per week at which government officials must work.

That would help everyone.

As funny and clever as h90 sounds, unfortunately it's probably very close to the truth.

As with many things in Thailand it's a case of the inmates running the hospital.

"Government officials to be allowed to take long weekend holidays to promote tourism"

You mean they arn't already doing just that???

More days when Immigration and the Embassies will be closed.......................

Promoting Tourism?? Give me a break.