Thai Cabinet Approves 15-Day Paternity Leave

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PATERNITY LEAVE

15-day paternity leave approved

Jeerapong Prasertpolkrang

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet has approved paid leave of up to 15 days for state officials or employees whose wives have given birth to take care of the new mothers and babies, acting government spokesman Anusorn Eiumsa-ard said yesterday.

Saying that the Cabinet had approved the draft royal decree for state officials' salary and other payments as well as the draft regulation for state employees' payments, Anusorn explained that the first draft included permission for state officials to take up to 15 days off at full salary within 30 days of the child's birth.

However, if state officials wanted to take the days off to take care of their wives after that 30-day period, it would be up to their supervisor, at the director general or equivalent position, if the officials would receive payment during the leave period.

The officials taking extra days off to take care of their newborns would not be entitled to the salary payment, he added.

The draft royal decree also allows state officials who haven't been ordained as Buddhist monks or on a pilgrimage to Mecca to take religious leave with salary payment for up to 120 days, while officials wishing to take leave for vocational rehabilitation were entitled to leave with salary payment for up to 12 months.

The draft regulation for state employees' payments covered the same terms and the rules were thus applicable to state employees too, he added.

-- The Nation 2012-03-21

[David48]

Personally I applaud this first step of allowing Parental leave.

While it is limited to 'State Officials and employees' it is a welcome step.

It may take some time but hopefully it will filter down through the private sector in the years ahead.

Without trying to lead the debate I wish the current government would invoke more of these type of beneficial social reforms as proposed to set a rice floor price and the like.

The inclusion of the unpaid leave for what I assume is meant to imply training and possible ordination as a Monk (I don't know the correct status there as I know you don't just become a Monk) is likewise welcome.

David48

.

[Pib]

while officials wishing to take leave for vocational rehabilitation were entitled to leave with salary payment for up to 12 months.

Hey, I may want to change jobs, do something different, I'm taking 12 months of paid leave for vocational training. See you in 12 months because I could change my mind about switching jobs 12 months from now on graduation day.

Seriously, I sure hope there is fine print in this vocation rehab leave which somehow benefits the taxpayer.

[David48]

while officials wishing to take leave for vocational rehabilitation were entitled to leave with salary payment for up to 12 months.

Hey, I may want to change jobs, do something different, I'm taking 12 months of paid leave for vocational training. See you in 12 months because I could change my mind about switching jobs 12 months from now on graduation day.

Seriously, I sure hope there is fine print in this vocation rehab leave which somehow benefits the taxpayer.

Pib , Good point and I missed that.

Given the nature of the change to legislation, I wonder if it was a mis-print was supposed to read 'without' pay?

[anterian]

"officials wishing to take leave for vocational rehabilitation were entitled to leave with salary payment for up to 12 months." Just what is vocational rehabilitation. It sounds like an euphemism for a paid holiday.

[bigbamboo]

Does this apply when their 'other' wives have kids too?