happyness to the people

he will get the credit

the employers will have to pay the bill

Spreading happiness by legally letting everyone do sod all.

We're talking about Thailand, not socialist Europe where doing sod all is a multinational past-time. Most Thais would love to work just 35 hours a week like the Europeans who ... surprise, surprise ... now find their economies collapsing.

Most working Thais have long hours and few days off. They don't close hotels, restaurants, convenience stores, malls, etc on holidays. People have to show up to work as usual.

Europe, the hub of doing sod all. I don't agree with Maggie about much, but she must be smiling now as things fall apart in Greece and elsewhere.

Sitting at work and playing on the phone or dozing off is considered working by you?

Anyone know what the holiday celebrates, or what it is called?

It is easy to be generous with other people's money.

As if they don't have enough holidays to get drunk and kill more people on the roads as it is.

If I were the Good General, I would cancel all holidays until they can drive sober, sensibly and safe, especially Songkran.

How to destroy foreign investment. How to ensure wages stay low. Keep giving holidays so business factors this in and ensures wages remain bigger all.

This idiot is no better than the others. Yep I was soooo wrong

The usual rubbish. - public servants only as usual. They do sweet f all to start with.

I assume they add so many holidays in an attempt to cool down the untamable growth of the economy. Not?

Anthony, you do realise that most of the Thai workers are not entitled to any holidays during the year, except the public holidays?

No I don't realize that, because all of the Thai workers I know have 2 days a month to take.

But most will also work a 6 day week.

Thais are not entitled to floating holidays such as the ones that European workers enjoy.

As mentioned by Costas, 'Thai workers are not entitled to any holidays during the year, except the public holidays', which means that as everyone is on holiday at the same time and all want to go home the roads to Issarn are jammed.

For a 3 or 4 day Songkran holiday a Thai can spend about 50% of the holiday travelling (stuck in traffic).

The (extra) holidays that you see in the Thai news are almost entirely for government and bank workers (sometimes for teachers) and make no difference to labourers, shop assistants or factory workers.

If an employer does offer these extra holidays, they will take them off the other holiday dates or give them as unpaid leave.

They have 6 day work week because they need 6 days to do the work a westerner does in 3 days.

Anyone know what the holiday celebrates, or what it is called?

Mayday, mayday, mayday, mayday!

I assume they add so many holidays in an attempt to cool down the untamable growth of the economy. Not?

Anthony, you do realise that most of the Thai workers are not entitled to any holidays during the year, except the public holidays?

Sure , and you as a Greek knows all about economy and holidays.....

I should have thought yet another extra day's holiday would be the last thing Thailand needed, right now. But that's my thinking, as opposed to politicians' oft non-thinking.

5 day holiday in May right after a week's long insanity in April

Another "5 Dangerous Days"? to keep a count of the road carnage and "vow" to reduce the deaths to Zero again.

DId anyone ever think that a single day extra holiday in thaialnd is probably worth 0.25% of GDP.

Now who is going to recompense the country for that? Mai bpen arai. sanook maaaaak

I assume they add so many holidays in an attempt to cool down the untamable growth of the economy. Not?

Anthony, you do realise that most of the Thai workers are not entitled to any holidays during the year, except the public holidays?

No I don't realize that, because all of the Thai workers I know have 2 days a month to take.

But most will also work a 6 day week.

Thais are not entitled to floating holidays such as the ones that European workers enjoy.

As mentioned by Costas, 'Thai workers are not entitled to any holidays during the year, except the public holidays', which means that as everyone is on holiday at the same time and all want to go home the roads to Issarn are jammed.

For a 3 or 4 day Songkran holiday a Thai can spend about 50% of the holiday travelling (stuck in traffic).

The (extra) holidays that you see in the Thai news are almost entirely for government and bank workers (sometimes for teachers) and make no difference to labourers, shop assistants or factory workers.

If an employer does offer these extra holidays, they will take them off the other holiday dates or give them as unpaid leave.

All white collar workers get extra holidays 15 days often in Bangkok.

I worked in several manufacturing companies in Thailand all with daily labour and they were all entitled to mandated and some discretionary holidays and the factories all complied with minimum wage and overtime. Yes there are exploitations, but the labour department is actually pretty good in Thailand. Thai daily labour is not some horrendously put upon animal. The one industry I am not sure about is textiles but, these are often supplying multinationals and so they comply.

Beyond that thais are entitiled to quite nice sick leave without any note from a doctor, so whilst not getting much discretionary holiday they do get songkran, new year, Royal and buddhist days which do all add up

5-day break in May backed by Cabinet
Jeerapong Prasertpokrung
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet yesterday approved a proposal to make May 4 a public holiday to extend the holiday period between Labour Day and Coronation Day to five days.

The new holiday will be added to the existing public holidays: Labour Day, which falls on Friday May 1, and Coronation Day, which falls on Tuesday, May 5. This will increase the length of the break during the period to five days.

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said the five days of public holidays would stimulate tourism revenue by 10 per cent during this period. She said it was similar to the long New Year holiday, which gave a successful boost to the economy.

She said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had encouraged the ministry to pay close attention to promoting quality tourism for both local and foreign tourists, as well as increasing the safety of individual tourists at major destinations.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/5-day-break-in-May-backed-by-Cabinet-30252821.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-28

it will increase tourism revenue by 10%. (Domestic) Isnt this only shifting revenue from one sector to another and how dose this actually effect the economy overall. Having a public holiday in Thailand isn't going to boost international tourism. Manufacturing stops/slows but people are paid to have a day off.

I assume they add so many holidays in an attempt to cool down the untamable growth of the economy. Not?

Anthony, you do realise that most of the Thai workers are not entitled to any holidays during the year, except the public holidays?

Do you realise that there are Labour Laws which entitle Thai workers to 48h of work and 6 days a week? They also regulate the paid holidays, sick leave and how to compensate workers for working on public holidays.

You are right to assume that they normally not apply for work on slave ships and forced prostitution.

An article 2 days ago stated Thais are living above thier means. Another holiday so they can spend more on food, alcohol, fuel & accommodation is just stupid. Maybe they do this so more die on the roads & loans don't have to be paid. Just lazy.

More holiday = more booze = more road fatalities minus productions

the last thing Thai people need is more holiday with 13-15 government's

declared holiday plus 30 days a year for private time, this is already too much...

A typical Thai worker will get around 10 days holiday if they are lucky. They certainly don't get a month or more as in most EU countries.

I don't see any problem with giving them a few extra days here and there.

what a miserable bunch here. Don't you have other, more important things to get upset about?

One wag said in answer to my question about productivity: "If you want twice as much work done on a Thai building site you need to employ twice as many workers". I know it's BS as the Thai construction industry is fueled by Cambodian and Burmese labour with vary few Thai construction workers.

An article 2 days ago stated Thais are living above thier means. Another holiday so they can spend more on food, alcohol, fuel & accommodation is just stupid. Maybe they do this so more die on the roads & loans don't have to be paid. Just lazy.

I dont know about other things you mention.

But one thing I totaly agree with...."LAZY"

One wag said in answer to my question about productivity: "If you want twice as much work done on a Thai building site you need to employ twice as many workers". I know it's BS as the Thai construction industry is fueled by Cambodian and Burmese labour with vary few Thai construction workers.

One thing is for sure.

This country would go right down the pan if it wasn't for these migrant workers. The Thais won't do this work, its too much like hard work, they want easy money.

Just make every day a public holiday and watch the economy soar.

Just great! Another several days were the banks are closed which means if your receiving funds from overseas like me, I no access to my funds which means I can not spend money to enjoy the long holiday. So, now I must budget my April funds to have a nice 5 day holiday in May. Thanks Thailand.

ASEAN countries which intend to invest here will find it difficult to do business transactions from different time zones will not like this arrangment which includes their labour force that will be here.

When you can not more money transactions, they your not making business.

Yes, I know ATM'S and the Malls. But, some like me must go in person to the bank to due transactions with my passport only!

This avoids those ATM scams and being robbed at one.

Just great! Another several days were the banks are closed which means if your receiving funds from overseas like me, I no access to my funds which means I can not spend money to enjoy the long holiday. So, now I must budget my April funds to have a nice 5 day holiday in May. Thanks Thailand.

ASEAN countries which intend to invest here will find it difficult to do business transactions from different time zones will not like this arrangment which includes their labour force that will be here.

When you can not more money transactions, they your not making business.

Yes, I know ATM'S and the Malls. But, some like me must go in person to the bank to due transactions with my passport only!

This avoids those ATM scams and being robbed at one.

Stop bloody whinging and transfer your money before the holiday if you really have too. However banks in Malls are open 7 days a week and on public holidays so its doubtful you'll need too.

If your so paranoid about using an ATM or being robbed, perhaps you shouldn't go outside at all.

I thought populist policies are outlawed??

It would appear many of your readers are negative and have problems reading and understanding what they read:

May 1st is an annual holiday in many parts of the world as well as Thailand MAY DAY

May 2& 3 Weekend Saturday, Sunday.

May 5 Coronation day annual gazetted holiday

May 4 given to make a 5 day break, only 1 extra days holiday

This is all spelt out in article,

Enough of the negative ways!!!

A typical Thai worker will get around 10 days holiday if they are lucky. They certainly don't get a month or more as in most EU countries.

I don't see any problem with giving them a few extra days here and there.

The problems (listed above) are caused by giving everyone holidays at the same time.