Long weekends ok for civil servants

The Cabinet agreed yesterday to allow government officials to reschedule working days near long holidays and weekends so they can enjoy long weekends and boost domestic tourism.

Deputy government spokesman Suparak Khunha said Cabinet approved the proposal to allow officials to switch working days with weekends on a case-by-case basis so they can enjoy long weekend holidays.

If a national holiday falls on a weekend, officials will also get an extra holiday like private employees. But they will not be able to take more than one extra holiday per week, the spokesman said.

Currently, employees at private firms get an extra holiday on Monday if a national holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday but until now government officials did not enjoy an extra day off.

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

To allow government officials to enjoy a long weekend, they can work on Saturday July 4 instead of Monday July 6, the spokesman said.