About 300,000 private businesses have been asked to allow their staff to take a day off on Dec 11 without counting it as a leave day to enable them to go on a four-day holiday, Labour Welfare and Protection Department chief Pannee Sriyuthasak said.
Ms Pannee said she signed an announcement dated Dec 1 calling for business operators to cooperate.
Since Dec 10, Constitution Day, is already a holiday, and Dec 12 and 13 are official days off, if the employees cooperate their employers would be able to go on a long holiday between Dec 10-13 to visit their homes and families. This would also help to promote tourism, she said.
Moreover, the workers can take part in the "Bike for Dad" cycling event on Dec 11 to mark His Majesty the King's 88th birthday, she added.