Public holidays in Thailand

[Nereus]

Not sure if this is the correct place, so mods please move if not.

String of holidays starting tomorrow, Friday 13th May.

All Government offices will be closed and reopen next Wednesday.

[lomuamart]

Looks like it's Visakha Buddha day which is the most important Buddhist date. That actually appears to be on the 17th, so I guess that's why there's a long holiday until then.

[pharvey]

Friday 13th...... what better day to start

[moja]

tomorrow is Royal Ploughing Day and the 17th is Visakha Puja Day, no more holidays then until 15th and 16th July.

[MwD]

Unfortunately for us in international companies, only Tuesday 17th is a holiday.

Can't complain though, this is the 1st week of a full 5 working days for a while now....

Think I counted 22 public holidays a year in Thailand, that's a whole working month...

[HAPPYGOLFER]

The day is national holiday in Thailand to mark Visakha Puja Day*, the holiest of all the Buddhist holidays. Celebrated every year in May on the date of the full-moon, the day is often simply referred to as ‘Buddha Day’.
Visakha Puja marks the day when Prince Siddhatta Gotama was born, 35 years later became the Buddha (enlightenment) and in another 45 years passed away (nirvana). In each case, these events took place on the full-moon day in the Visakha month (usually May).
At dawn, many Thais visit temples to offer food to the monks and make merit. At dusk, candlelit processions walk around the wats. It is a day for Buddhists to express their gratitude for the Buddha’s goodness. All good Buddhists are supposed to avoid alcohol and any acts of wrong-doing. Many foreign visitors to the nightlife areas may be surprised to find lights and music turned off and no alcohol being openly sold. But like many things in Thailand, there is always more than one way of doing things and such abstinence isn’t witnessed everywhere.
As a foreign visitor you won’t be expected to follow Buddhist tradition, but you will score a lot of Brownie points if you can demonstrate some knowledge of the day, avoid alcohol and visit the temple (respectfully dressed).

[HAPPYGOLFER]

Public holidays in Thailand are regulated by the government, and most are observed by both the public and private sectors. There are usually sixteen public holidays in a year, but more may be declared by the cabinet. Since 1996, if a holiday falls on a weekend, the following workday(s) is (are) observed as a compensatory non-workday, subject to the cabinet's declarations. Other observances, both official and non-official, local and international, are observed in varying degrees throughout the country.

[Pagey]

Don't forget to buy your carry out today as I understand the town centre bars will be closed tonight as it's Buddha Day.

[dom77]

Can someone explain why if the govt give us these holidays an employer can forcably deduct salary for not working on those days - isnt it illegal?

[margaretcarnes]

Can someone explain why if the govt give us these holidays an employer can forcably deduct salary for not working on those days - isnt it illegal?

Illegal in the West dom - TIT

[dom77]

Thanks Legend - thought so - bloody sharks ! Lose money coz they wish to close!