The cabinet has approved a two-day holiday for all government offices in Bangkok and Nonthaburi province during the Asean summit and other meetings to be held at Impact Muang Thong Thani early next month.
Deputy government spokeswoman Traisulee Traisoranakul said on Tuesday the cabinet had endorsed a Foreign Ministry proposal for Nov 4 and 5 to be extra holidays for state offices in the capital and Nonthaburi as Muang Thong Thani will host the summit of Southeast Asian Nation leaders and other related meetings.
The two-day holiday, which gives government workers a four-day weekend, would ease traffic congestion and make it easier for Asean leaders and other participants to move to and from the venue, she said.
The decison applies only to goverment offices. The cabinet left it to state enterprises, banks, private bujsinesses and the Bank of Thailand to make their own decisions on whether to follow suit.
Thailand is the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year. The summit of 10 Asean leaders and related meetings with seven counterparts will be held from Nov 2-4. About 3,000 officials and journalists are expected in Bangkok for the sessions.
